All articles tagged with #rivera
Former Florida Rep. David Rivera was found guilty in Miami on all counts for secretly lobbying U.S. officials on behalf of Venezuela’s PDVSA to ease sanctions during Nicolás Maduro’s tenure; the trial featured testimony from Rubio and others, and Rivera and associate Esther Nuhfer were convicted, with Rivera facing a potentially long prison sentence and related charges in D.C.
Sen. Marco Rubio testified in a federal case against his longtime friend David Rivera, alleging Rivera acted as an unregistered foreign agent in a $50 million Venezuela-related deal with CITGO. Rubio described Rivera’s 2017 meetings about a potential Maduro exit and questioned whether Rivera was advancing Maduro’s interests or secretly pushing for his departure, highlighting the broader effort by Venezuela to normalize ties with the U.S. through money and influence.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio testified in a Miami federal case involving former Rep. David Rivera, who is accused of money laundering and secretly lobbying for Venezuela. Rubio described Rivera as a vociferous anti-communist voice and testified about 2017 talks on a transition that could oust Nicolás Maduro, amid prosecutors’ claims Rivera’s firm secured a $50 million contract with a Venezuelan state oil subsidiary to influence U.S. policy. Rubio said he did not know about the contract, and the proceedings unfold as Venezuela, Iran and Cuba feature in broader geopolitical tensions.