Cilia Flores, the wife of former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, was scheduled to appear in a New York court today, Thursday, 8 October 2026. Her legal team plans to ask a judge to release her from jail and place her under house arrest, citing health concerns.
Ms Flores, 69, and Mr Maduro have been held in New York since early January, following their capture during a raid on their Caracas home. Both have pleaded not guilty to charges in a criminal case, first brought six years ago, alleging their involvement in a conspiracy to import cocaine into the US. If convicted, they could face life prison sentences.
Lawyers for Ms Flores have stated she has medical issues, including heart problems, that they claim cannot be effectively treated in jail. They have suggested she could live under 24-hour guard at a New York residence. Her lawyers also reported she suffered permanent scarring during her capture and has lost 25lbs (11kgs) while imprisoned. They added that she has been told she might need heart surgery and may have suffered a minor heart attack in July.
Prosecutors have opposed the bail request, arguing in a court filing that Ms Flores would pose an “extreme risk of flight and danger to the public” if released. They noted that she has received treatment at a local hospital when needed.