Maduro’s Wife Appeals For US Jail Release, Citing Heart Condition And Medical Concerns

Cilia Flores, the wife of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, has asked a US judge to release her from federal jail and allow her to await trial under home confinement, citing a worsening heart condition. Flores, 69, and Maduro, 63, have been held at a federal jail in Brooklyn since US forces seized them from their home in Caracas during a raid in early January and brought them to New York City. They are awaiting trial on US drug trafficking charges, with proceedings scheduled to take place next June in Manhattan federal court. Flores' lawyers, Mark Donnelly and Andres Sanchez, made the request in court papers filed on Wednesday.

They argued that she should be allowed to leave the Brooklyn federal facility and remain under home confinement while her case proceeds. The lawyers said Flores' heart condition has worsened during her time in custody and argued that she deserves the opportunity to await trial outside jail while receiving appropriate care. The request is being made before the start of the trial, meaning Flores would remain subject to the US judicial process while being held under alternative restrictions. Under the proposal submitted by her lawyers, Flores would live at a residence within the Manhattan federal court district where she and Maduro are scheduled to stand trial.

Her lawyers proposed strict conditions intended to ensure that she remains under close supervision while outside federal detention. The arrangement would include continuous monitoring and restrictions on her movements and contacts, according to the court filing. Flores' lawyers said she would be subject to 24-hour armed surveillance at the proposed residence. She would only be permitted to receive visitors who had been approved by the court and federal prosecutors. The residence would also be monitored through video surveillance, while her telephone calls would be recorded, the lawyers said.

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The proposed conditions are intended to address concerns surrounding her release by allowing authorities to maintain extensive oversight of her activities throughout the period of home confinement. The request comes as Flores and Maduro remain in custody while preparing to face the US charges. Flores has argued through her lawyers that her medical condition should be taken into account when determining whether continued detention in a federal jail is necessary before trial. Her legal team has therefore proposed home confinement as an alternative that would allow her to remain in the New York area while being subject to strict monitoring.

The court will have to consider the request and determine whether the proposed conditions are sufficient to permit her release from jail. Flores' application also comes ahead of the trial scheduled for next June, giving the court time to consider her detention status before proceedings begin. Her lawyers have sought to balance her request for release with extensive restrictions, including armed supervision, approved visitors, video monitoring and recorded calls. Until the judge rules on the application, Flores remains in the Brooklyn federal jail. Maduro is also being held in custody as the two prepare to face the US drug trafficking case in Manhattan federal court.

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