Rivera's Trial: Lobbying for Maduro, Money Laundering

0:00The federal trial of former Miami Congressman, David Rivera, kicks off Monday. He's accused of secretly lobbying for Venezuela's government under Nicolas Maduro during the first Trump administration. Prosecutors say Rivera scored a $50 million contract from the state oil company PDVSA and used his Republican ties to soften U.S. policy toward the socialist regime. Rivera allegedly worked through encrypted chats with media tycoon Raul Garene and Texas rep Pete Sessions to arrange meetings with White House, contacts and exon executives. They aim to normalize ties and resolve oil disputes, but those efforts flopped amid Trump's maximum pressure sanctions on Maduro. Rivera and Secretary of State Marco Rubio go way back. They were roommates in Florida politics. Rubio's set to testify about their interactions, including meetings where Rivera pitched back channel talks within Venezuelan officials. It's rare for a cabinet member to hit the stand in a criminal case like this. The 11-count indictment from 2022 charges money laundering and failing to register as a foreign

1:04agent. Rivera claims his firm helped the U.S. arm of the oil company legitimately and denies any shady work. A parallel civil suit says he pocketed about $20 million but delivered little. As the case unfolds, it spotlights old U.S. Venezuelan tensions now shifting with Maduro's recent ouster, though where Rivera's defense pushes back hard on. The foreign influence claims. Stay informed with Canada News today, AI-powered updates. I'm Corey with The Story.