Cilia Flores, the wife of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, has asked a federal judge to release her from custody while awaiting trial, citing a "serious" heart condition. Her attorney, Mark Donnelly, explained that she needs to be under home confinement to recover from a cardiac catheterization, a procedure that may lead to more invasive heart surgery. According to Donnelly, Flores was physically healthy before being taken into U.S. custody and only required a monthly injection to manage her mitral valve prolapse, a condition where the heart's mitral valve doesn't close properly. However, she now takes multiple medications, including one for potential heart attack prevention, and has not received her monthly injection since being incarcerated. Flores, 69, and Maduro, 63, were arrested in a U.S. military raid at their home in Caracas and brought to a Brooklyn jail in January to face criminal charges. They are accused of conspiring to import cocaine, possessing machine guns, and engaging in narco-terrorism. Prosecutors allege that Maduro and his associates have worked with violent drug traffickers and corrupt officials to distribute large amounts of cocaine to the United States. Both have pleaded not guilty and are set to go on trial in June, where they could face life sentences if convicted. They recently asked a judge to dismiss the charges, claiming immunity as the leader and first lady of a foreign country. If Flores were released before her trial, her attorney suggested she be placed under home detention with GPS monitoring, 24-hour armed guards, and restrictions on travel. Donnelly said the Trump administration is aware of the request but opposes her release, arguing that the detention center lacks the proper medical conditions for her recovery. He noted that Flores has lost over 25 pounds, two molars, and sleeps only three to four hours a day. On July 29, she experienced a 30-minute episode of chest pressure and difficulty breathing, and has since suffered from dizziness and shortness of breath. Her legal team believes she may have had a minor heart attack, but without proper lab tests, the extent of her condition remains uncertain. A spokesperson for the Southern District of New York declined to comment on the case. The legal and medical challenges surrounding Flores' condition have added complexity to the ongoing trial preparations, as her health continues to be a critical concern for her defense team.