A former congressman from Miami, who was a close associate of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, received a 10-year prison sentence on Friday. This was in relation to a secretive $50 million lobbying effort aimed at benefiting Venezuela during Donald Trump’s first term in office.
David Rivera, a Republican, has been in custody since a jury convicted him in May on various charges, including not registering as a foreign agent and conspiring to launder money in connection with his activities for Nicolás Maduro’s regime.
As Rivera, 61, stood before Judge Melissa Damian, she criticized him for betraying his long-held values. She indicated that if the millions had come from the Cuban government instead, he would have faced much harsher judgment from his peers.
“Nobody would think that’s acceptable, and I believe this case is no different,” the judge remarked. “There’s no arguing that these funds came from the Maduro administration.”
The extensive trial lasted seven weeks and revealed Miami’s pivotal role in foreign influence campaigns that aimed to alter US policies toward Latin America. It highlighted the city’s dual image as both a hub for anti-communist activism and a center of corruption, particularly among its large exiled population.
Key figures from Trump’s administration, including his Secretary of State and Texas Representative Pete Sessions, testified during the trial. They expressed feelings of betrayal upon discovering Rivera’s substantial consulting deal with PDVSA, Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, which had a US affiliate.
Rivera’s legal team is preparing to appeal the verdict and had even applied for a presidential pardon in June. Additionally, Rivera faces more federal charges related to foreign lobbying in Washington, DC.
Prosecutors Allege Deception with Coded Language
According to an indictment made public in 2022, Rivera was recruited by Delcy Rodríguez, who is now the acting president of Venezuela, to leverage Republican connections to persuade the Trump administration to ease its strict sanctions on Venezuela.
Rivera and a co-defendant, political consultant Esther Nuhfer, aimed to sway influential figures, including Rubio and Sessions. Their intention was to foster better relations with the Trump administration, even as the Maduro government dealt with serious human rights allegations and sanctions.
However, Rivera and Nuhfer reportedly kept their lobbying efforts concealed, fearing that disclosure could jeopardize Rivera’s reputation as a staunch anti-communist.
“The American public and this nation were the real victims of this fraud,” said Assistant US Attorney Roger Cruz, arguing for a harsh sentence. “He abused a position of trust and did so repeatedly.”
To maintain secrecy, Rivera allegedly created an encrypted chat group titled MIA, connecting him to Raúl Gorrín, a Venezuelan media tycoon later charged with bribing Venezuelan officials.
In their communications, group members utilized code names: Maduro was referred to as the “bus driver,” Sessions as “Sombrero,” Rodríguez as “The Lady in Red,” and their substantial payments were termed “La Luz,” which translates to “The Light.” Rubio, interestingly, was given the nickname “Miss Clairol,” likely a play on the word “rubio,” which means blond in Spanish.
Defense Argues Technicalities Over Intent
During the sentencing, Rivera’s attorneys repeated points from the trial, asserting that their client was under the impression that he wasn’t obliged to disclose his lobbying activities.
They maintained that the three-month, $50 million deal with Rivera’s solo consulting firm was aimed at enticing ExxonMobil back to Venezuela—a commercial venture that generally falls outside the requirements of the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
“David Rivera shouldn’t face a lengthy prison sentence just for not filing a registration,” his defense attorney Ed Shohat stated. “Had he submitted that paper, everything he did, including that massive contract that has complicated matters, would have been entirely lawful.”
They contended that Rivera’s interactions with Rubio and Sessions were separate from his lobbying work and focused on reforming leadership in Venezuela to make it more amenable to the US, rather than supporting Maduro.
“There’s not a single piece of evidence or document supporting any assistance to Nicolás Maduro,” Shohat argued.
Prosecutors countered that Rivera had utilized the contract with the US-affiliated PDV USA as a facade for his illicit lobbying activities.
“This is a quintessential money laundering case,” the judge remarked during the sentencing, denying Rivera’s request for a reduced sentence.
The Destinations of the Funds
Prosecutors alleged that Rivera and his partners endeavored to conceal their dealings, including backdating documents and fabricating agreements to justify a $3.75 million wire transfer made to a South Florida firm responsible for maintaining Gorrín’s luxury yacht.
The political machinations involved arranging meetings for Rodríguez across various cities, including New York, Caracas, Washington, and Dallas.
Sessions also played a role in organizing a meeting between Rodríguez and an ExxonMobil executive following a secret meeting with Maduro in Caracas.
However, their plans unraveled rapidly. Within six months of assuming office, Trump imposed sanctions on Maduro, labeling him a “dictator” and initiating a campaign to oust him.
Now, almost a decade later, Rodríguez has positioned herself as a key partner for the second Trump administration following the US military’s ousting of Maduro.
Rivera’s Controversial Past and Ongoing Support
Prior to his congressional tenure beginning in 2010, Rivera was a prominent figure in Florida politics and even shared a residence in Tallahassee with Rubio, who later became the speaker of the Florida House.
Rivera has a history of controversies, including accusations of secretly financing a Democratic candidate in a congressional contest in 2012. Although federal prosecutors dropped the case last year after a court overturned a considerable fine, he was previously investigated for other potential campaign finance violations without facing any charges.
Despite these issues, Rivera continues to enjoy significant backing from Miami’s Cuban American community.
Supporters, including notable figures like the former president of Florida International University, filled the courtroom to express their solidarity.
Sessions, in a letter requesting leniency that was presented during the trial, highlighted Rivera’s longstanding commitment to public service and advocacy for democracy. There were sentiments that sending Rivera to prison for an extended period wouldn’t serve society’s interest, as expressed by Liliana Ros, a long-time member of the Miami GOP committee.
