In brief
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is testifying in the trial of former congressman David Rivera, accused of secretly lobbying for Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro. Rivera, along with an associate, is charged with money laundering and failing to register as a foreign agent after a $50 million lobbying contract was awarded to them. Prosecutors claim they sought to influence U.S. relations with the Maduro regime, using coded communication via a chat group to conceal their activities. Rivera's defense contends that his business dealings were legitimate and did not violate foreign lobbying laws.
MIAMI (AP) — Secretary of State Marco Rubio is testifying Tuesday over his interactions with former Miami congressman David Rivera nearly a decade ago, when his longtime friend was accused of secretly lobbying on behalf of Venezuela’s government. Rivera and an associate were charged in 2022 with money laundering and failing to register as a foreign agent after being awarded a $50 million lobbying contract from Nicolás Maduro’s government.On the stand, Rubio stated he shared a six-year history with Rivera while they were both part of the Florida Legislature, emphasizing their close friendship during that time. Prosecutors allege Rivera and his co-defendant attempted to arrange meetings for then-Foreign Minister Delcy Rodríguez — now Venezuela’s acting president — in major U.S. cities with officials in the White House and Exxon Mobil's CEO.To disguise their activities, prosecutors mentioned that Rivera and others created a chat group named MIA, which stood for Miami, using Spanish code words like “Little Cuban” for Rubio, “The Lady in Red” for Rodríguez, and “melons” to refer to millions of dollars.Rivera, identified in court as a lobbyist, is said to have aimed to persuade the first Trump administration to normalize relations with Maduro’s government, a task deemed significantly challenging but now seemingly viable amid shifting political dynamics.Prosecutor Roger Cruz described the case as boiling down to 'greed and betrayal,' asserting the defendants formed a pact to secretly lobby for Maduro for a hefty fee. Conversely, Rivera's defense argues that his firm was engaged by an American subsidiary of Venezuela's state-owned oil company, thus exempt from registering under foreign lobbying laws. The testimony from Rubio is particularly unique as it marks the first time a sitting cabinet member has taken the stand in a criminal trial since 1983.
