Former U.S. Rep. David Rivera is sentenced to 10 years in prison for a secret lobbying scheme tied to Venezuela’s government. Multiple outlets report that a federal jury convicted Rivera in May on charges including failing to register as a foreign agent and conspiracy involving money laundering, arising from his work connected to former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
The case centers on lobbying activity conducted in Washington during 2017 and 2018 on behalf of Venezuela. The reports also describe a reported $50 million lobbying contract. Outlets add context differently: several note Rivera was a longtime Miami Republican and political ally of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, while others emphasize his argument that, despite the contract, his efforts were aimed at removing Maduro rather than supporting his government.
Overall, the sources agree on the conviction and the prison term, while differing mainly in the emphasis placed on Rivera’s political connections and his stated intent versus the government’s portrayal of the conduct and related legal violations.
