MIAMI (AP) — A former congressman from Miami, David Rivera, alongside his associate Esther Nuhfer, was convicted on Friday for his involvement in a covert $50 million lobbying effort on behalf of the Venezuelan government during Donald Trump's presidency. The jury found both Rivera and Nuhfer guilty on multiple counts, including failing to register as foreign agents and conspiracy to commit money laundering related to their activities for Nicolás Maduro’s administration.
Throughout the trial, which spanned seven weeks, Rivera maintained a stoic demeanor as the jury read their verdict. Following the conviction, Judge Melissa Damian ordered Rivera to be taken into custody, citing significant flight risk due to his access to considerable funds, the high likelihood of a lengthy prison sentence, and potential additional federal charges pending in Washington, D.C., linked to another foreign lobbying case.
The trial highlighted Miami's role as a hub for foreign influence efforts aimed at altering U.S. policies toward Latin America. It underscored the city's notorious reputation as a center of corruption, especially among its substantial population of exiles. Testimonies from notable figures, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Texas Congressman Pete Sessions, revealed their surprise at learning about Rivera’s consulting contract with PDVSA, the Venezuelan state oil company.
The 11-count indictment, unsealed in 2022, accused Rivera of being engaged by former Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodríguez—now the acting president of Venezuela—to leverage his Republican ties from his time in Congress to persuade the Trump administration to moderate its stringent stance and alleviate sanctions on Venezuela. The prosecution portrayed Rivera and Nuhfer as opportunistic players manipulating influential political allies, including Rubio and Sessions, to foster favorable relations with the Trump administration amidst accusations of human rights abuses against the Maduro regime.
Prosecutor Roger Cruz emphasized during closing arguments that the defendants disregarded the origins of the funds since they continued to flow in. The effort to conceal their lobbying activities was referred to as a “massive secret” that could jeopardize Rivera’s career as a staunch anti-Communist. To obscure their dealings, Rivera allegedly created an encrypted chat group—referred to as MIA for Miami—to communicate with Raúl Gorrín, a Venezuelan media mogul charged in the U.S. with bribing Venezuelan officials. In this chat, code names were used to refer to key figures and financial transactions, with Maduro termed as the “bus driver” and millions of dollars referred to as “melons.”
Defense attorneys for Rivera and Nuhfer argued that their clients acted in good faith, believing their activities did not require disclosure under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. They asserted that Rivera’s consultancy with PDV USA, lasting three months, was primarily aimed at convincing ExxonMobil to return to Venezuela, which they contended was exempt from registration requirements. They distinguished this from meetings with Rubio and Sessions that occurred after the consulting contract ended and were focused on facilitating new leadership in Venezuela less antagonistic towards the U.S.
Throughout the proceedings, defense counsel likened the government’s arguments to historical witch trials, denouncing the lack of substantial evidence of malintent. Prosecutors contended that Rivera used the contract with PDV USA as a facade for illegal lobbying activities, further attempting to retroactively alter documents and fabricate agreements to justify questionable financial transactions.
Ultimately, Rivera's endeavor to normalize relations between the U.S. and Venezuela unravelled within six months of Trump's inauguration, which saw the imposition of sanctions against Maduro, branding him a “dictator.” In a twist of fate, nearly a decade later, Rodríguez has positioned herself as a close ally of the second Trump administration following the military's efforts to displace Maduro.
Prior to his congressional tenure starting in 2010, Rivera was a prominent figure in Florida's legislative assembly. His past includes various controversies, such as allegations of secretly support a Democratic candidate to undermine a Republican rival and an investigation into campaign finance irregularities, which ultimately led to dropped charges. Rivera's political career has been marred by a series of legal and ethical controversies, making this recent conviction a notable chapter in his history.
