Rio de Janeiro,May 14, (dpa/GNA) – Former Venezuelan leader, Nicolás Maduro, who is jailed in the United States, has to share a prison cell with 18 other inmates, according to his son.
Nicolás Maduro Guerra, Maduro’s only son, told German magazine Der Spiegel in an interview published on Wednesday, that US rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine had also briefly been held in the shared cell, after violating probation conditions.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were arrested by US forces in Caracas in early January, and flown to New York. They face charges including narco-terrorism, linked to allegations that Maduro used his office to facilitate the smuggling of large quantities of cocaine into the US. Maduro has denied the allegations.
His 35-year-old son, known as “Nicolasito,” also rejected the accusations, describing the case as politically motivated, and denying that his family had any links to drugs or terrorism.
Maduro Guerra said the US military operation came as a surprise to his family and the Venezuelan government, despite growing tensions with President Donald Trump’s administration ahead of the attack on January 3.
He said Venezuela had overestimated its own strength, and had not done enough to protect his father.
Maduro’s son also rejected Trump’s claim that the US, had effectively taken over government affairs in Venezuela after Maduro’s capture.
He said current measures including an amnesty law and the opening of the oil sector were Venezuelan initiatives, while adding that the country was still socialist but now had to make concessions.
The country’s former vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, is currently serving as acting president.
GNA