Cilia Flores requests bail in New York due to deteriorating health
The legal defense for Cilia Flores, wife of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, has reiterated its request for her to be granted release on bail. The lawyers argue that Flores’s health has been severely affected since her incarceration at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
Details regarding the former first lady’s clinical status
According to the records filed with the court, the defense maintains that their client has experienced concerning cardiac complications since their detention. Among the reported episodes are mentioned:
- A series of 33 episodes of ventricular tachycardia.
- A 30-minute event characterized by severe chest tightness.
- Significant weight loss and the loss of two teeth.
The legal representatives link this deterioration to the circumstances of her capture during the U.S. military operation that took place on January 3rd, after which she was transferred to New York. They state that her heart condition, which was previously kept stable through monthly treatment, has worsened significantly, especially after having spent her first three months in solitary confinement.
The prison’s medical team has suggested the need for a catheterization, a procedure that, according to his lawyers, does not have the ideal conditions for proper recovery within the prison environment.
Arguments against the Prosecutor’s position
The federal prosecutor’s office maintains its opposition to parole, arguing that there is a high risk of flight and that Flores poses a danger to society. In response, the defense has dismissed these concerns by emphasizing the defendant’s age, 69, and her delicate state of health.
Likewise, the lawyers denied speculations regarding a possible financial capacity to evade justice, asserting that Flores does not have the economic resources to fund his defense, a claim that has been presented under sworn statement.
Next legal steps
The joint judicial process against Flores and Maduro is scheduled to begin on June 1, 2027. Both face serious charges including conspiracy to traffic drugs and possession of firearms, linked to a long-standing investigation into narcoterrorism and corruption. Both the defense and the accused have requested the dismissal of the charges under the principle of sovereign immunity. In the event of a conviction, Flores could face a minimum sentence of 40 years or even life imprisonment.
