Ex-congressman and consultant convicted in $50M Venezuela lobbying scandal
A former Miami congressman and a political consultant have been found guilty of running a secret $50 million lobbying campaign for Venezuela. David Rivera, once a close associate of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, was convicted alongside Esther Nuhfer after a high-profile trial. The scheme involved efforts to influence the Trump administration on behalf of Nicolás Maduro’s government. Between 2017 and 2018, Rivera and Nuhfer worked under a multimillion-dollar contract with Venezuela’s state-owned oil company, PDV USA. Prosecutors revealed they used the deal as cover for illegal lobbying, backdating documents and creating fake agreements to hide their activities. Rivera even set up an encrypted chat group named MIA, where he and Venezuelan media tycoon Raúl Gorrín discussed payments in code.
The pair manipulated connections with powerful figures, including Rubio and Texas Congressman Pete Sessions, to push for normalised relations with the U.S. Rivera, who had previously faced scrutiny over campaign finance violations and a $1 million gambling contract while in office, was found guilty of failing to register as a foreign agent and conspiracy to launder money. Nuhfer was also convicted on all charges related to the scheme. As part of the verdict, properties owned by Rivera in Doral and The Keys will now be seized by the government. Both defendants are set to appear for sentencing on July 20.
The convictions mark the end of a lengthy investigation into Rivera’s covert dealings with Venezuela. His properties will be confiscated, and both he and Nuhfer await sentencing next month. The case highlights the legal risks of undisclosed foreign lobbying in U.S. politics.
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