The Justice Department on Wednesday released an indictment accusing the former Miami congressman of making more than $5.5 million as an unregistered foreign agent for a sanctioned Venezuelan businessman.
Former Rep. David Rivera (R-Fla.) allegedly failed to register as a foreign agent and created a “fraudulent shell company” and “false and fraudulent documents” to hide his activities. . indictment.
Federal law does not prohibit individuals or companies, even former members of Congress, from acting as foreign agents, but they must register with the Department of Justice (DOJ) under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). Required to disclose activities.
In January 2019, the Ministry of Finance authorized Raul Gorin Bellisario was praised for his role in a bribery scheme related to illegal currency manipulation involving the Venezuelan Treasury.
According to the indictment, from around June 2019 to around April 2020, Rivera lobbied government officials to remove Gorin from the Specially Designated Nationals/Blocked List (SDN List).
According to The Hill's review, Golin remains on the SDN list. list, Last updated on Wednesday.
Rivera received more than $5.5 million for his services through a Hong Kong brokerage firm, according to the indictment.
Mr. Rivera allegedly received these funds through his company, InterAmerican Consulting, and used them to pay individuals who helped lobby on Mr. Golin's behalf. He is then suspected of transferring some of the money to a shell company and using it to pay another lobbyist.
Mr. Rivera did not respond to a request for comment via an email listed in his company's incorporation records. Rivera's attorney, Ed Shohat, declined to comment.
The former congressman has been dogged by allegations that he failed to register as a foreign agent.
In 2022, Rivera and one of his former political consultants were arrested for their work on behalf of the state-owned and controlled oil company Petroleos de Venezuela, SA.
of 8 charges Mr. Rivera has spent $50 million on lobbying efforts aimed at easing tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela, resolving legal battles with U.S. oil companies, and preventing additional economic sanctions against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and other political allies. Received.
The case is ongoing in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
Updated at 12:24 PM ET
