Maduro Shares First Prison Photos After Eight Months Behind Bars in New York
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Venezuelan ex-dictator Nicolás Maduro, detained on federal drug-trafficking charges, posts images from his cell, attempting to rally supporters despite his criminal record.
Nicolás Maduro, the former socialist dictator of Venezuela, posted two photographs taken on June 25 from the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where he has been held for eight months on serious federal drug-trafficking charges. In the pictures, Maduro is dressed in a gray sweatsuit with white sneakers and appears thinner than in previous images, a likely result of his time behind bars.
He wrote on his X account that the photos were intended as a 'gift' to his family, supporters, and the Venezuelan people, urging them to remain 'strong, serene, and confident' and claiming that 'Venezuela will be reborn.' > 'I send these photos as a small gift to all my grandsons and granddaughters, to the boys and girls, and to all the noble people who love us,' Maduro wrote, continuing his attempts to manipulate public sentiment despite his criminal past.
The release comes after recent diplomatic developments, including a U.S. announcement that Venezuela would allow American firms majority control over 65 billion barrels of its oil reserves—a move that could finally bring some accountability and economic opportunity to the country after years of socialist mismanagement. Since his arrest in January, Maduro has reportedly spent much of his time reading the Bible and is allowed 510 minutes per month for conversations with visitors, according to statements from his son.
The images were posted two days after the U.S. president announced the oil agreement and one day after two major earthquakes in northern Venezuela killed more than 6,500 people, a tragedy made worse by the country's years of corruption and neglect under Maduro's regime.