Miami – Former Republican congressman David Rivera, a longtime ally of former Secretary of State Marco Rubio, received a 10‑year federal prison sentence on Friday for his role in a secret $50 million lobbying campaign for the government of Nicolás Maduro. The sentencing, handed down by Judge Melissa Damian, highlights the seriousness with which the Trump administration and subsequent authorities treat illegal foreign lobbying.
Charges and conviction
Rivera, 61, was convicted in May of conspiracy to commit money laundering and of failing to register as a foreign agent under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). The judge emphasized that Rivera’s conduct betrayed the anti‑communist principles he long championed, noting that the money came directly from the Maduro regime.
Details of the scheme
Prosecutors presented evidence that Rivera, acting as a conduit for Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Delcy Rodríguez, used his connections with GOP officials—including Rubio and Rep. Pete Sessions of Texas—to influence U.S. policy toward Venezuela during the first Trump administration. Rivera and co‑defendant political consultant Esther Nuhfer allegedly concealed the $50 million contract with a New York‑based affiliate of Venezuela’s state oil company, PDVSA, fearing it would damage Rivera’s reputation as an anti‑communist stalwart.
The scheme involved an encrypted chat group called “MIA” (for Miami) where participants used code names such as “Sombrero” for Sessions and “Miss Clairol” for Rubio. Text messages showed how payments were referred to as “La Luz” (Spanish for “The Light”).
Government response
Assistant U.S. Attorney Roger Cruz called the United States and its citizens the true victims of the fraud, stating that Rivera abused his position of trust repeatedly. The judge rejected the defense’s argument that the failure to file a FARA registration was a mere paperwork issue, calling the offense “serious.”
Potential repercussions
Rivera’s lawyers have filed for a presidential pardon and plan to appeal the conviction while also defending him in a related foreign‑lobbying case pending in Washington, D.C. The government has also sought the forfeiture of $20 million in criminal proceeds, a request that remains pending.
Community reaction
Despite the conviction, Rivera retains support among segments of Miami’s Cuban‑American community. Friends, including former Florida International University president and Miami‑Dade County supervisor of elections, attended the sentencing hearing. Rep. Pete Sessions sent a letter urging leniency, describing Rivera as a “devoted defender of democracy.” U.S. Attorney Jason Reding Quiñones, himself a Cuban American, expressed puzzlement at the continued backing, saying, “He sold his anti‑communism to communists to fill his greed.”
Broader implications
The case serves as a reminder of the ongoing threat posed by foreign actors seeking to shape U.S. policy through undisclosed lobbying. It also illustrates the Trump administration’s early crackdown on illegal foreign influence, a stance that has continued under the current administration.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
