Former congressman David Rivera was sentenced to 10 years after a Miami jury convicted him of money laundering, failing to register as a foreign agent and related charges tied to a $50 million contract allegedly funded by PDVSA. Prosecutors say he was hired during Donald Trump's first term to use Republican contacts to press Washington to soften its policy toward Caracas. Marco Rubio testified that Rivera had been a "close friend" but said he was unaware of any such contract; Rivera plans to appeal and has applied for a presidential pardon.
Ex-Congressman David Rivera Sentenced to 10 Years for Secret Lobbying Tied to Venezuela
Former US congressman David Rivera, pictured here on March 24, 2026, at his trial in Miami, Florida, was convicted of conspiracy to launder money and failing to register as a foreign agent, among other charges (JOE RAEDLE)
A former Republican congressman, once described as a close associate of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, was sentenced on Friday to 10 years in prison after a Miami jury convicted him of secretly lobbying the U.S. government on behalf of Venezuela.
David Rivera was convicted in May on charges that included conspiracy to launder money, failing to register as a foreign agent and related offenses tied to a $50 million contract prosecutors say was connected to Venezuela's state oil company, PDVSA.
Prosecutors told the court that Rivera was retained during President Donald Trump's first term by officials in the administration of then-president Nicolás Maduro. They say he used his Republican contacts in Washington as part of an effort to persuade U.S. policymakers to soften their stance toward Caracas.
Authorities alleged Rivera persuaded then-foreign minister Delcy Rodríguez — who is now serving as Venezuela's interim president — to award him the lucrative lobbying contract, which prosecutors say was funded by PDVSA.
U.S. District Judge Melissa Damian imposed the 10-year sentence after a hearing that lasted more than four hours. Media reports indicate Rivera intends to appeal the conviction and has applied for a presidential pardon.
Rubio’s Testimony And Rivera’s Defense
Marco Rubio, who testified at the March trial, described Rivera as a one-time "close friend"; the two men reportedly even shared an apartment when they were lawmakers from Florida. Prosecutors noted that Rivera met with Rubio twice in 2017, while Rubio was a U.S. senator, to discuss Venezuela's political future.
"It would have been shocking to me," Rubio told jurors, adding he had no knowledge at the time of any contract between Rivera and Venezuelan officials. He has not been accused of wrongdoing.
Rivera has said his consulting work aimed to encourage U.S. oil major ExxonMobil to return to Venezuela and that his political activity was intended to help remove Maduro from power rather than assist his government. The defense maintains Rivera's actions were oriented toward U.S. commercial and political interests, not covert influence on behalf of a foreign regime.
Related Proceedings
Separately, Rivera faces an additional federal case in Washington alleging he received more than $5.5 million to lobby on behalf of a Venezuelan businessman who is the target of U.S. sanctions.
This case highlights growing scrutiny of undisclosed foreign influence in U.S. political circles and reinforces enforcement of laws that require lobbyists acting on behalf of foreign principals to register with the Department of Justice.
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