Rubio Set to Testify in Venezuela Lobbying Trial

Clear Facts

• Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to testify in the federal trial of former Republican Congressman David Rivera.
• Rivera is accused of illegally lobbying for the Venezuelan regime under dictator Nicolás Maduro without registering as a foreign agent.
• Prosecutors allege Rivera received millions to influence U.S. policy and prevent sanctions against the communist leadership in Venezuela.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio will reportedly take the witness stand Tuesday in a high-profile federal trial involving allegations of illegal lobbying for a foreign adversary. Former Congressman David Rivera is accused of operating as a secret agent for the Venezuelan government while seeking to influence American lawmakers.

Prosecutors claim Rivera and co-defendant Esther Nuhfer leveraged decades of political relationships to sell access to U.S. officials for personal gain. The government alleges the pair signed a $50 million contract with a state-owned company controlled by dictator Nicolás Maduro.

“They sold their loyalty. They offered access, the defendants did, to United States politicians that they’ve spent decades establishing relationships with,” prosecutor Roger Cruz said during opening statements on Monday.

“The evidence will show that for $50 million these two defendants made a pact to secretly lobby for Nicolás Maduro, the communist director, and his second in command Delcy Rodríguez,” Cruz added.

The defense maintains that Rivera was engaged in commercial consulting rather than political lobbying and therefore was not required to register as a foreign agent. They argue the efforts were centered on business interests, such as encouraging Exxon Mobil to return to the region.

“Not one single policy of the U.S. was impacted by this case,” defense attorney Ed Shohat told the jury.

Rubio is expected to be questioned about meetings held in 2017 during his tenure in the U.S. Senate. This testimony marks the first time a sitting Cabinet member has testified in a criminal trial in over forty years.

Source: Daily Wire

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