The federal trial of former Miami congressman David Rivera is set to begin Monday morning, as prosecutors accuse him of secretly lobbying for a sanctioned Venezuelan businessman in exchange for millions of dollars.
Rivera, who represented South Florida in Congress from 2011 to 2013, was indicted in 2024 on charges related to working on behalf of Raul Gorrin Belisario, a Venezuelan media tycoon accused by the U.S. Treasury Department of participating in a massive corruption scheme involving bribes to Venezuela’s national treasurer.
According to the indictment, Rivera attempted between 2019 and 2020 to influence senior U.S. government officials—including a high-ranking executive branch official—to lift sanctions placed on Gorrin. Prosecutors allege Rivera received roughly $5.5 million for the effort.
Federal authorities say Rivera violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), which requires individuals working for foreign governments or entities to disclose their activities to the U.S. government. The indictment also claims Rivera created shell companies to hide payments connected to the alleged lobbying work.
This is not Rivera’s first legal battle related to foreign lobbying. In 2022 he was also charged with attempting to recruit others in the United States to act as unregistered agents for the Venezuelan government.
Rivera has denied the allegations and maintains that he did not illegally lobby on behalf of Venezuela. He has also filed legal actions against opponents of Venezuela’s former leader Nicolás Maduro.
The trial is expected to feature testimony from several high-profile witnesses, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was previously Rivera’s roommate.
Proceedings are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Monday in federal court.
