Flores Appears in Court with Injuries Following US Raid

The wife of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Cilia Flores, made a court appearance in New York City with bandages on her face and indications of bruised ribs, as reported by her lawyer.

Mark Donnelly, a seasoned prosecutor representing Flores, informed the court that she suffered “severe injuries” during a raid by U.S. forces at the couple’s Caracas compound over the weekend. He requested a full body X-ray to check for potential broken ribs resulting from the incident.

Flores already had bandages wrapped around her forehead and across her eyes as she arrived in court.

During their initial court hearing on Monday, both she and her husband entered a plea of not guilty to multiple charges, including drug-related terrorism.

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Maduro faces four serious charges: conspiracy related to narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, and possession of illegal firearms and destructive devices.

Flores is charged with three counts of conspiracy to import cocaine, plus charges similar to her husband relating to firearms.

In a notable detail, Donnelly filed a motion to represent Flores, demonstrating his extensive background as he previously worked for 12 years at the Department of Justice and served as a senior advisor to the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas.

His professional biography highlights experience in complex white-collar investigations, including health care fraud and securities fraud, which actually adds some depth to his qualifications for the case.

Interestingly, Donnelly was also asked to assist in the impeachment trial of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in 2023, an event that took much of the state’s focus at the time.

Maduro and Flores, who have been married for around 12 years, first connected while working alongside Maduro’s predecessor, Hugo Chávez. Maduro once characterized Flores as having a “fierce personality.”

They tied the knot nearly 20 years after they initially met, following Maduro’s election as president in 2013.