Former Ally Of Rubio In Florida Facing Charges For Acting As Unregistered Foreign Agent For Venezuela

The federal trial of former Congressman David Rivera in Miami could shed new light on how figures in President Donald Trump's orbit engaged with Venezuelan interests during the first Trump administration, according to a new report.

Rivera, a longtime political ally of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, is charged with acting as an unregistered foreign agent for Venezuela, and Rubio is expected to testify as a government witness.

The Lever reports that prosecutors allege Rivera and political consultant Esther Nuhfer used a $50 million consulting contract with Citgo, the U.S. subsidiary of Venezuela's state oil company, as a cover for a campaign to influence U.S. policy toward Venezuela without registering under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, or FARA.

The indictment says the effort was intended "to influence United States foreign policy towards Venezuela" while concealing ties to the Venezuelan government.

The case has drawn wider attention because Rivera's defense has tried to bring in Trump White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, who previously worked at Ballard Partners. As the Miami Herald reported in late January, defense lawyers sought to question Wiles about communications involving Venezuelan businessman Raúl Gorrín, a Maduro ally whose media company, Globovisión, retained Ballard's firm in 2017.

Ballard has said its work for Globovisión was limited to helping the network expand in the U.S. market and that it complied with legal and regulatory requirements. But the Herald reported that a draft letter prepared for Gorrín outlined a proposal for political change in Venezuela. "I happen to know that my government wants a way out, a way to save their skins and fortunes," the letter said.

Rivera also arranged meetings involving Rubio, Gorrín and other U.S. officials in 2017 as part of an effort tied to possible normalization and political transition in Venezuela, The Lever reports. Rivera denies wrongdoing and has argued he was trying to help remove Nicolás Maduro, not assist his government.

His lawyers wrote that Rivera and Rubio were focused on "sanctions against the Maduro government, and on removing Maduro as head of state in Venezuela."