Nicolás Maduro’s wife asks US court for release on bail
In the United States, in New York, Cilia Adela Flores de Maduro, the wife of captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, has filed a motion with a federal court seeking release on bail before the start of her trial. Her lawyers cite a worsening heart condition while she is being held at the federal detention center in Brooklyn, Anadolu Agency reports.
Defense arguments
Lawyers for the 69-year-old Flores said she needs time to recover after possible medical procedures in appropriate conditions. In their view, the detention center cannot provide proper postoperative care.
According to the lawyers, Flores had previously been treated for mitral valve prolapse with monthly injections, which were discontinued after her imprisonment. She is currently taking four medications, including a statin and a beta-blocker, has access to nitroglycerin, and has lost more than 11.3 kilograms of weight.
The defense also claims that recent examinations revealed serious heart rhythm disturbances and signs of reduced blood supply to the heart, which, according to the lawyers’ assessment, increases the risk of sudden death.
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Release conditions and case proceedings
According to the motion materials, medical staff at the Brooklyn detention center recommended cardiac catheterization after an April stress test had to be stopped. Defense medical experts said that severe chest pain lasting 30 minutes on July 29 could have indicated a minor heart attack.
The lawyers propose releasing Flores from custody on the condition that she stays at a residence in New York under round-the-clock armed security provided by a private company, continuous GPS monitoring, and agreed monitoring of telephone conversations. Prosecutors oppose her release.
US District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein allowed Flores’ detailed medical records to be sealed for confidentiality reasons, while leaving the legal filings publicly available. The trial is scheduled to begin on June 1, 2027. Flores and Maduro deny federal charges of importing cocaine and weapons-related crimes.
