{"id":2597783,"date":"2026-05-01T15:56:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T19:56:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-congressman-david-rivera-convicted-of-lobbying-for-venezuela\/"},"modified":"2026-05-01T15:56:49","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T19:56:49","slug":"former-congressman-david-rivera-convicted-of-lobbying-for-venezuela","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/former-congressman-david-rivera-convicted-of-lobbying-for-venezuela\/","title":{"rendered":"Former congressman David Rivera convicted of lobbying for Venezuela"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fformer-congressman-david-rivera-convicted-of-lobbying-for-venezuela%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2597783&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>David Rivera, a former Florida Republican congressman and one-time roommate of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, was convicted on Friday for his role in lobbying for Venezuela. A jury found Rivera and his associate, Esther Nuhfer, guilty on all counts, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-crypto-exec-order-u-s-must-mitigate-national-security-risks-of-digital-assets\/\" title=\"Biden Crypto Exec Order: U.S. Must Mitigate &#039;National Security&#039; Risks of Digital Assets\">including money laundering<\/a> and failing to register as foreign agents with the Department of Justice.  <\/p>\n<p>Prosecutors said Rivera helped secure and promote a $50 million consulting contract connected to Venezuela\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >state-owned oil company<\/a>,using U.S. political ties to advance venezuelan President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro\u2019s interests and perhaps soften U.S. sanctions. The weeks-long trial took place in federal court in Miami, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ron-desantis-spokesperson-teases-major-announcement-liberal-media-meltdown\/\" title=\"Ron Desantis Spokesperson Teases Major Announcement: ...Liberal Media Meltdown\u201d\">drawing national attention<\/a> when Rubio-who was not accused-testified. Other officials, including Rep. Pete Sessions and lobbyist Brian Ballard, also appeared during the proceedings.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p>David Rivera, a former <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/florida\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"159\">Florida<\/a> Republican congressman who was once roommates with Secretary of State <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/marco-rubio\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"51\">Marco Rubio<\/a>, was convicted Friday for his role in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/lobbying\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1543\">lobbying<\/a> $50 million on behalf of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/venezuela\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"910\">Venezuela<\/a> during the first <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/trump-administration\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"339\">Trump administration<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>Jurors found Rivera and his associate, Esther Nuhfer, guilty on all counts, including money laundering and failing to register as a foreign agent with the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"438\">Department of Justice<\/a>. <\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4550751\/secret-service-director-deny-agent-friendly-fire\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Secret Service director denies agent was wounded by friendly fire<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4550569\/epstein-suicide-note-found-cellmate\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Apparent Epstein suicide note found by cellmate in 2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4550485\/doj-weighs-classified-leak-charges-comey-legal-pressure-builds\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>DOJ weighs new classified leak charges against Comey as legal pressure escalates<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>Rivera was <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4500636\/rubio-testify-roommate-maduro-hired-gun\/\">first arrested<\/a> in 2022 on an 11-count indictment. Prosecutors alleged the former congressman cut a $50 million consulting contract with a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/venezuela\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"910\">Venezuelan<\/a> state-owned oil company in 2017 with the help of Venezuelan officials. They said he used his Washington ties to promote then-Venezuelan President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/nicolas-maduro\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"2252\">Nicolas Maduro<\/a> and soften U.S. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/sanctions\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"787\">sanctions<\/a> on the South American country.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The weekslong trial was held at federal court in Miami and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4500636\/rubio-testify-roommate-maduro-hired-gun\/\">drew national attention<\/a> when <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/marco-rubio\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"51\">Rubio<\/a> and other top U.S. officials testified in March.\u00a0Rubio and Rivera were once roommates and co-owned a home in Tallahassee during their early days in Florida politics.<\/p>\n<p>Rubio was not accused of wrongdoing related to the case. His testimony marked the first time since 1983 that a presidential cabinet official took the stand in a criminal trial. <\/p>\n<p>Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pete-sessions\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"5105\">Pete Sessions<\/a> (R-TX) also testified, as he allegedly aided Rivera in creating inroads with government officials. Brian Ballard, a top lobbyist and fundraiser for President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a>, appeared at the trial as well.<\/p>\n<p>The verdict was welcomed by Jason Reding Quinones, the U.S. attorney in Miami whose office brought the case.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey took millions from the communist regime in Venezuela to secretly influence U.S. policy, and concealed it not just from the American government, but from their own close political allies and personal friends,\u201d <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/USAReding\/status\/2050251954887233862\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/x.com\/USAReding\/status\/2050251954887233862\">said<\/a> Quinones. \u201cForeign influence carried out in secret is corruption. Today, a jury held them accountable.\u201d <\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4546193\/pentagon-congress-codify-department-war-costs-exceed-50-million\/\"><strong>PENTAGON ASKS CONGRESS TO CODIFY \u2018DEPARTMENT OF WAR\u2019 NAME AS COSTS EXCEED $50 MILLION<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Rivera served in Congress from 2011 to 2013, overlapping with Rubio\u2019s time in the Senate. Before their time in Congress, they both served in the Florida legislature. <\/p>\n<p>Rivera was a close mentor to Rubio, helping him grow his career from Florida politics to Capitol Hill.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>David Rivera convicted for $50M Venezuela lobbying; Rubio not charged<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4195,"featured_media":2597784,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26121577928847.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[5408,78955,78954,4198,50813],"class_list":["post-2597783","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-congressman","tag-criminal-conviction","tag-david-rivera","tag-lobbying","tag-venezuela-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26121577928847.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2597783","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4195"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2597783"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2597783\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2597787,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2597783\/revisions\/2597787"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2597784"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2597783"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2597783"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2597783"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}