The Digester

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to testify in the federal trial of former Rep. David Rivera, who prosecutors say accepted a $50 million contract to secretly lobby the Trump administration in 2017 on behalf of Venezuelan government figures and did not register as a foreign agent.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to testify as a witness in the criminal trial of former Rep. David Rivera, who is accused of illegal lobbying for Venezuela, and Rubio is not charged.
Rivera and co-defendant Esther Nuhfer were indicted in 2022 on charges of money laundering and failing to register as foreign agents for allegedly accepting a $50 million contract to lobby in 2017 for a U.S. subsidiary of PDVSA.
Prosecutors say Rivera and Nuhfer tried to influence the first Trump administration, including unsuccessful attempts to meet Kellyanne Conway and two arranged meetings with Rubio.
Prosecutors allege the lobbying aimed to ease U.S. sanctions and lower tensions on behalf of Nicolás Maduro and Delcy Rodríguez, who the indictment ties to the effort.
Rivera's defense argues the work was exempt from the Foreign Agents Registration Act, was focused on bringing Exxon back to Venezuela, and did not change U.S. policy.
Rubio will be the first sitting Cabinet member to take the stand in a criminal trial since 1983.

Rubio to testify in trial of ex-Florida congressman accused of lobbying for Venezuela

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