Maduro’s son explains how prison photographs of his father reached the family

The photographs of Nicolás Maduro in a U.S. prison were taken by detention-center staff, not by the former Venezuelan president himself, according to his son. Nicolás Maduro Guerra offered the explanation after the images prompted doubts about their authenticity.

Maduro Guerra said in a video posted on X that the photographs were taken on June 25, a day after a double earthquake that left 6,500 people dead. He said his father told the family that a person arrived at about 6 p.m. while he was watching television. Maduro was “very shocked” and “very distressed,” his son said, and did not want his picture taken.

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That photo was taken on June 25, one day after the double earthquake.

The photographer insisted, however, and said the images could later be sent to the family. Maduro Guerra said the two photographs were printed and mailed by his father on July 13. They arrived at a U.S. address on Aug. 25, after which the family received “a photo of the photo.” On Friday, Maduro dictated a message from prison that his son later published alongside the images.

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He was very shocked, he was very distressed.

In the message, Maduro Guerra said, “We continue working here in the name of God, moving the country forward and fighting for the prompt liberation of Nicolás Maduro Moros and Cilia Flores.” The photographs were shared on the former president’s social media accounts on Sunday, two days after an energy agreement that gave the United States control of one-fifth of Venezuela’s oil reserves was announced.

Maduro is detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn on drug-trafficking charges. He has no access to newspapers or the internet, but he can speak with family members and lawyers for about 300 minutes a month, with calls limited to 15 minutes each.

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We continue working here in the name of God, moving the country forward and fighting for the prompt liberation of Nicolás Maduro Moros and Cilia Flores.