Jury convicts former Florida congressman in Venezuela lobbying case

A federal jury convicted former Florida Congressman David Rivera of conspiracy, failing to register as a foreign agent, and related charges tied to lobbying U.S. officials on behalf of the Venezuelan government. The verdict came after a six-week trial in Florida, where prosecutors detailed how Rivera’s consulting firm was hired by Venezuela’s state-run oil company, PDVSA, for a $50 million contract to influence members of Congress and improve U.S.-Venezuela relations. Rivera, who served in Congress from 2011 to 2013, was ordered detained due to concerns he posed a flight risk. His political consultant associate, Esther Nuhfer, was also convicted. Prosecutors described the case as a covert political influence campaign orchestrated by Rivera and Nuhfer between 2017 and 2018, allegedly at the behest of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s government. They attempted to lobby prominent U.S. figures, including Senator Marco Rubio—who testified he was unaware of Rivera’s lobbying activities—and former White House advisor Kellyanne Conway. The lobbying efforts occurred during a period of heightened tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela under President Donald Trump’s administration, which had imposed sanctions on the Maduro regime. Rivera’s defense argued that their work was conducted for a U.S.-based subsidiary of PDVSA, not directly for the Venezuelan government, and therefore did not require registration as foreign agents. They also maintained that Rivera’s true objective was to remove Maduro from power rather than normalize relations between the two countries. Defense attorneys highlighted that communications showed no intent to improve diplomatic ties, countering the prosecution’s narrative. Rivera showed little emotion upon hearing the verdict. This case underscores ongoing concerns about foreign influence and undisclosed lobbying efforts in U.S. politics, particularly involving countries with strained diplomatic relations. It also highlights the legal complexities surrounding the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and the scrutiny of political consultants working with foreign entities. The conviction of a former congressman marks a significant development in efforts to enforce transparency and accountability in foreign lobbying activities.