Ex-Congressman David Rivera Convicted in $50 Million Secret Lobbying Scheme for Venezuela

Key facts

• David Rivera, 60, was convicted on all counts in federal court in Miami on Friday.
• The charges included failing to register as a foreign agent, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and tax evasion.
• Rivera and associate Esther Nuhfer were found guilty after a seven-week trial.
• The secret $50 million contract was with a U.S.-based affiliate of Venezuela's state oil company, PDVSA.
• Secretary of State Marco Rubio testified at the trial, recounting a 2017 meeting with Rivera.
• Judge Melissa Damian ordered Rivera taken into custody, citing flight risk and additional charges in Washington, D.C.
• Sentencing for both Rivera and Nuhfer is scheduled for July 20.

Guilty Verdict Ends Secret Lobbying Trial

A federal jury in Miami convicted former U.S. Representative David Rivera on all counts Friday, capping a seven-week trial that exposed a clandestine $50 million lobbying campaign on behalf of Venezuela's socialist government. Rivera, a Republican who served in Congress from 2011 to 2013, was found guilty of acting as an unregistered agent for Venezuela, conspiring to commit money laundering, and tax evasion. The verdict was delivered at 3 p.m., and Rivera, stone-faced, was immediately handcuffed and taken into custody after Judge Melissa Damian reviewed his property holdings. His co-defendant, political consultant Esther Nuhfer, was also convicted on all counts but was released on bond pending sentencing. Her attorney, David O. Markus, vowed to appeal, stating, "We believe that we're gonna get this right eventually. Today is a bump in the road for us because Esther is innocent and we're gonna stand by her and we believe in her." Nuhfer briefly addressed the court in Spanish, expressing surprise and insisting she had expected to be acquitted.

A $50 Million Contract and a Hidden Agenda

Prosecutors alleged that Rivera and Nuhfer worked with the regime of Nicolás Maduro from 2017 to 2018, securing a multimillion-dollar contract through Rivera's company. The goal was to lobby U.S. officials to ease crippling sanctions on Venezuela and normalize relations between the two countries. The contract was signed with a U.S.-based affiliate of PDVSA, Venezuela's state oil company, but Rivera never registered as a foreign agent with the Justice Department as required by law. According to an 11-count indictment unsealed in 2022, Rivera was tapped by then-Foreign Minister Delcy Rodríguez—now Venezuela's acting president—to leverage his Republican connections from his time in Congress. The indictment alleged that Rivera and Nuhfer manipulated influential friends, including Rubio and Texas Congressman Pete Sessions, like "pawns on a chess board" to advance the Maduro government's interests. "As long as the money kept coming in, they didn't care from where," prosecutor Roger Cruz said during closing arguments.

Rubio's Testimony and the 'No Vengeance' Promise

The trial featured testimony from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a former roommate and longtime friend of Rivera. Rubio told the jury that in 2017, Rivera approached him with a plan to convince Maduro to step down. A few days later, Rubio delivered a Senate floor speech signaling that the U.S. would not retaliate against Venezuelan government insiders who worked to push Maduro from power. "He provided me with insight into some of the key phrases that regime insiders would've wanted to hear to know this was serious," Rubio testified. "No vengeance, no retribution." Rubio, along with Sessions and a top Washington lobbyist, testified that they were shocked to learn belatedly of Rivera's consulting contract with PDVSA. The defense argued that Rivera's work focused on legitimate commercial, anti-communist, or democracy-promotion efforts, but the jury rejected that narrative. Throughout the case, Rivera denied wrongdoing.

Miami's Role as a Crossroads for Foreign Influence

The seven-week trial offered a rare glimpse into Miami's role as a crossroads for foreign influence campaigns aimed at shaping U.S. policy toward Latin America. It highlighted the city's reputation as a magnet for corruption and anti-communist crusaders among its sizable exile population. U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones underscored the significance: "These convictions expose a simple truth: the defendants sold access and influence to a hostile foreign regime for money. In South Florida, where so many families fled communist oppression, that kind of betrayal carries real weight." The jury also ordered the seizure of properties owned by Rivera in Doral and the Florida Keys. Rivera faces additional federal charges in Washington, D.C., in a related foreign lobbying case, compounding his legal jeopardy.

Sentencing and Appeals Loom

Sentencing for both Rivera and Nuhfer is scheduled for July 20. Rivera faces a potentially long prison sentence; Judge Damian ordered him taken into custody immediately after the verdict, finding that he posed a flight risk due to access to sizable funds and the prospect of a lengthy term. Nuhfer was released on bond pending sentencing. Attorneys for Rivera said they plan to appeal. The case underscores the ongoing legal scrutiny of foreign lobbying activities and the consequences for those who fail to disclose their work on behalf of foreign governments. The conviction marks a significant chapter in the broader investigation into influence peddling tied to Venezuela's government.

The bottom line

• David Rivera was convicted on all counts for secretly lobbying U.S. officials on behalf of Venezuela's Maduro government without registering as a foreign agent.
• The $50 million contract was with a PDVSA affiliate, and Rivera used his connections, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to advance the scheme.
• Rubio testified that Rivera provided insider phrases to signal U.S. non-retaliation, a key element of the lobbying effort.
• The trial highlighted Miami's role as a hub for foreign influence campaigns, particularly those involving Latin American regimes.
• Rivera faces additional charges in Washington, D.C., and a potentially long prison sentence; sentencing is set for July 20.
• The case demonstrates the Justice Department's focus on prosecuting unregistered foreign agents and money laundering.