U.S. prosecutors reject bail request for Venezuela’s Cilia Flores, citing health refusals and flight risk

While Venezuela’s interim leader Delcy Rodríguez met U.S. officials in New York, Cilia Flores remained in a Brooklyn detention facility, sharing a cell with dozens of women. Her lawyers claim she suffers from heart and gastric ailments, weight loss, dental decay, and a head injury from the January 3 arrest. The defense seeks bail, arguing she should be treated as the de facto First Lady.

Prosecutors argue she has declined a stress test-guided catheterization and other routine diagnostics, thereby fabricating a medical excuse. They also contend she represents a high flight risk, has access to substantial wealth, and could direct criminal networks if released. The court has ordered medical examinations, and a trial is scheduled for June 1, 2027.