Ex-US congressman sentenced to 10 years in prison for $50m lobbying scheme
Summary
David Rivera, a former Florida congressman, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for money laundering and secretly working as an agent for the Venezuelan government. He and his associate received $50 million to lobby U.S. lawmakers without declaring their foreign ties.Key Facts
- David Rivera served in Congress from 2011 to 2013 as a Florida Republican.
- Rivera was found guilty of money laundering and being an undeclared foreign agent representing Venezuela’s state oil company.
- Rivera’s consulting firm was paid $50 million for three months of lobbying work connected to PDVSA, Venezuela’s state oil firm.
- Prosecutors said Rivera and his associate, Esther Nuhfer, ran a secret political influence campaign on behalf of Venezuela’s government.
- The scheme aimed to influence U.S. politicians, including attempts to lobby Senator Marco Rubio and former White House adviser Kellyanne Conway.
- Rubio testified he was friends with Rivera but unaware of his lobbying activities.
- Defense lawyers argued the work was for a U.S.-based subsidiary, not directly for the Venezuelan government, but the judge said the money came from Venezuela’s Maduro regime.
- Rivera must forfeit his Florida properties as part of his sentence.
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