Ousted Venezuelan Leader Nicolas Maduro Turns to Religious Studies in Brooklyn Prison

Ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, currently held at a federal detention facility in Brooklyn, has reportedly turned to studying religious texts and meeting with a rabbi behind bars. According to a report published Sunday by The New York Times, the 63-year-old former leader is dedicating much of his time to studying scripture, reading the Bible and the Quran, and meeting with prison chaplains, including a Catholic priest and a rabbi.

Maduro was captured on January 3 in a U.S. military operation ordered by President Donald Trump. He was subsequently brought to New York alongside his wife, Cilia Flores, and is awaiting trial on drug-related charges, which he denies. Six sources familiar with his daily routine describe his current activities as a spiritual journey.

During his 13 years in power following the death of Hugo Chavez, Venezuela experienced deep economic crisis, political repression, and international isolation, maintaining close ties with Iran. Following his capture, his former vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, assumed control of the government after the Trump administration chose to cooperate with her rather than transfer power to the opposition.

Maduro's newfound interest in Judaism draws particular attention given his past claims of having Sephardic Jewish ancestry. While he previously claimed his grandparents were Sephardic Jews who converted to Catholicism, associates noted he showed little active interest in the religion prior to his arrest. The federal facility's rabbi, Israel Halin, is among those meeting with the detained former leader.

In addition to his religious pursuits, Maduro has undergone a noticeable physical transformation, losing significant weight due to the prison diet, which prevents him from maintaining his previous paleolithic regimen. He is held in the same Brooklyn facility previously used for high-profile inmates such as Sean "Diddy" Combs and Sam Bankman-Fried.

Meanwhile, the situation for his 70-year-old wife, Cilia Flores, is reported to be significantly more severe. Held in the general women's wing, her legal team states she has suffered health complications, significant weight loss, and harsh conditions while awaiting trial. The couple's trial is scheduled for June 14, 2027, under Judge Analisa Torres.