Ex-Congressman Rivera on Trial for Venezuela Lobbying

0:00On March 23rd, a former U.S. Congressman named David Rivera goes on trial Monday in Miami on charges he illegally lobbied American officials to ease. Sanctions on Venezuela's government under Nicolas Maduro. Prosecutors claim he took in $20 million from Venezuelan state companies in 2017 without registering as a foreign agent, as required by law. Rivera, a 60-year-old Republican who served Florida in the House from 2011 to 2013, arranged meetings back then between Venezuelan officials and U.S. lawmakers, including a congressman from Texas and a senator from Florida. Payments came through a consulting deal with Sitgo, a U.S. arm of Venezuela's state oil firm. Rivera and his co-defendant, consultant Esther Nufur, have pleaded not guilty to 10 counts, including money laundering conspiracy. His lawyers argue he worked to support Venezuela's opposition against Maduro, not help the regime, and that the money came from a U.S. company, so no.

1:01Registration was needed. The case spotlights, Delsey Rodriguez, then Venezuela's foreign minister, and now interim president after Maduro's recent capture by U.S. forces. Prosecutors might call Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a former ally of Rivera as a witness. The trial should run several weeks. This high-profile case could reveal more about hidden efforts to sway U.S. policy during Donald Trump's early days in office, even as sanctions on. Venezuela ramped up anyway.