Ex–Miami congressman David Rivera convicted in $50M secret Venezuela lobbying scheme tied to foreign influence campaign
Former Miami congressman David Rivera and a political consultant have been convicted in connection with a secret $50 million lobbying operation tied to Venezuela during the first Trump administration, according to jurors who found them guilty on all counts.
Rivera, a Republican and longtime associate of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, was convicted alongside co-defendant Esther Nuhfer on charges including failing to register as a foreign agent and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Prosecutors said the pair worked on behalf of officials linked to Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in an effort to influence U.S. policy and soften sanctions.
The seven-week trial detailed what prosecutors described as an effort to use Rivera’s political connections to gain access to senior U.S. officials and reshape the American approach to Venezuela. Witnesses included Rubio, Texas Rep. Pete Sessions, and a Washington lobbyist, all of whom testified they were unaware of Rivera’s consulting arrangement tied to a U.S.-based affiliate of Venezuela’s state oil company.
Prosecutors alleged Rivera was recruited by then–Foreign Minister Delcy Rodríguez to leverage his Washington contacts in hopes of shifting U.S. policy away from a hardline stance. They said Rivera and Nuhfer secretly coordinated efforts to influence U.S. officials while failing to disclose their foreign lobbying activities as required by law.
As part of the case, prosecutors described encrypted communications among participants using coded language, with Maduro referred to as the “bus driver,” Sessions as “Sombrero,” Rodríguez as “The Lady in Red,” and money referred to as “melons.” They said the group used the arrangement to disguise payments and political outreach.
During closing arguments, prosecutors accused the defendants of prioritizing financial gain while concealing the nature of their work. They also said the undisclosed lobbying activity was hidden because of concerns it could damage Rivera’s political career.
Defense attorneys argued the work was a lawful consulting activity focused on commercial energy interests and that Rivera was separately engaged in political discussions aimed at encouraging leadership change in Venezuela. They maintained that no illegal foreign lobbying took place and that communications cited by prosecutors were taken out of context.
Attorneys for Nuhfer compared the case to an overreach of suspicion, arguing the government lacked evidence of criminal intent.
Prosecutors also alleged the pair attempted to conceal their activities after the fact by backdating documents and creating false agreements, including transactions tied to millions of dollars in payments routed through companies connected to Venezuelan intermediaries.
The political effort reportedly included arranging meetings for Venezuelan officials in multiple U.S. cities and abroad, and attempts to engage major energy companies in discussions involving Venezuela’s oil sector.
The broader effort ultimately unraveled after U.S. policy shifted sharply against the Maduro government, with sanctions imposed and diplomatic pressure increased.
Rivera, who previously served in Congress and in Florida state politics, has faced earlier legal scrutiny in unrelated matters but had not been convicted until this case. Sentencing is expected at a later date.
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