Maduro's Wife Seeks Release from US Jail, Citing Health Concerns

Cilia Flores, the wife of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, was scheduled to appear in court Thursday, where her legal team planned to argue for her release from a New York jail and placement under house arrest. The defense cites her alleged heart problems and inadequate medical care within the facility.

Flores and Maduro have been held in New York since their capture in January, following a raid on their Caracas home. Both have pleaded not guilty to charges related to a conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States, facing potential life sentences if convicted. Their defense attorneys have previously sought dismissal of the case, asserting diplomatic immunity for the couple.

Attorneys for Flores, 69, contend that her medical conditions cannot be adequately treated in jail. They have proposed she be allowed to reside under constant guard at a New York residence. The defense also claims Flores sustained permanent scarring during the U.S. military operation that led to her apprehension, stating she was "thrown against a wall or dresser."

According to her lawyers, Flores has lost 25 pounds while detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. They report she has been informed that she might require heart surgery and has experienced ongoing lightheadedness, dizziness, and shortness of breath, with a potential minor heart attack in July.

Prosecutors have opposed the bail request, asserting in court filings that Flores would present an "extreme risk of flight and danger to the public" if released. They also noted that she has received medical treatment at a local hospital when necessary.

The Trump administration has defended the raid that led to Maduro's capture as a "surgical law enforcement operation." Maduro, who served as Venezuela's president from 2013 until his January arrest, has characterized his capture as a kidnapping and himself as a prisoner of war. Flores is accused of participating in the cocaine importation conspiracy alongside her husband.