- David Rivera, 60, a former Republican U.S. congressman from Florida, is on trial in federal court in Miami on charges he secretly lobbied on behalf of Venezuela’s government without registering under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), according to reporting by the Associated Press.
- Prosecutors said Rivera received payments tied to a $50 million consulting contract with a U.S. subsidiary of Venezuela’s state oil company and used his political connections to push U.S. officials to ease sanctions on President Nicolás Maduro’s government during the early Trump administration.
- Brian Ballard, a prominent Washington lobbyist and ally of President Donald Trump, testified that he cut ties with Rivera after learning of the contract, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio—who also testified—said he was unaware Rivera was allegedly working on behalf of Venezuela when they met to discuss U.S. policy. READ MORE Â
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