Miami court links Maduro to 'hostage diplomacy,' orders $314 million in damages
A federal judge in Miami ordered $314 million in damages paid to three US citizens who say they were tortured by Venezuelan intelligence services while imprisoned. The trio was freed in a 2023 exchange with Washington for Colombian businessman Alex Saab.
A federal judge in Miami ordered $314 million in damages be paid to three US citizens who say they were tortured while imprisoned in Venezuela. The ruling found the treatment was carried out by intelligence services linked to the government of Nicolás Maduro.
The three were freed from Venezuela in a 2023 exchange in which Washington released Colombian businessman Alex Saab. Court filings described their detention as an instance of "hostage diplomacy."
While the ruling carries largely symbolic legal weight, it lands amid continued international pressure on the Maduro government. Venezuelan authorities have not yet issued an official response to the decision.
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