In a new legal development, a Washington federal grand jury has indicted former Congressman David Rivera, accusing him of failing to register as a foreign agent while allegedly lobbying for a sanctioned Venezuelan media tycoon, Raúl Gorrín, with the Trump administration.
Rivera’s indictment marks the second instance of criminal charges scrutinizing his connections with Raúl Gorrín, a billionaire charged in 2018 and again in 2024 for allegedly bribing high-ranking Venezuelan officials to embezzle state funds from Nicolas Maduro’s administration. The recent indictment is centered on activities between June 2019 and April 2020, where Rivera reportedly lobbied U.S. officials, including an unnamed senior executive branch official, to rescind sanctions against Gorrín.
Prosecutors from the U.S. Justice Department’s National Security Division claim that Rivera was supported by another unnamed former U.S. official from New York, whom Rivera is alleged to have paid $125,000. This payment was part of the over $5.5 million Rivera received from Gorrín or on his behalf. Rivera faces charges of money laundering and violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act, which mandates registration when lobbying U.S. officials for foreign entities.
To facilitate his lobbying efforts, Rivera allegedly established fake shell companies in Delaware. These companies purportedly bore names connected to a law firm, an unnamed official, and the official’s hometown to falsely appear legitimate. Prosecutors assert that the official was unaware of the use of their name and hometown in creating these entities.
Rivera’s attorney, Ed Shohat, refrained from commenting, citing the necessity to confer with Rivera regarding the indictment. Previously, Rivera’s legal troubles included an arrest in 2022 related to an illegal lobbying case involving a $50 million consulting deal with a U.S. affiliate of Venezuela’s state-owned oil company PDVSA. The 2017 contract purportedly concealed a campaign by Maduro’s government to garner favor with the incoming Trump administration. Despite these efforts, the campaign did not succeed, as evidenced by Trump’s recognition of Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s legitimate leader in 2019 and the implementation of strict oil sanctions against the nation.
Prior to the breakdown of this campaign, Rivera and Gorrín managed to secure publicity by meeting with then-Vice President Mike Pence during an event in Florida. They also met with Trump’s Secretary of State nomination, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, who was once Rivera’s roommate during their time as state lawmakers in Tallahassee. Moreover, Rivera is alleged to have planned a potential flight and meeting on Gorrín’s private jet for a White House “counselor,” although Kellyanne Conway, a Trump aide at the time, stated that she did not partake in any private flight and traveled via commercial airline for the related engagement.
Rivera’s association with Rep. Pete Sessions of Texas is also notable. Rivera purportedly enlisted Sessions to arrange a meeting for Venezuela’s foreign minister with Exxon executives when the company had its base in Sessions’ district. Rivera’s political career has been marked by several controversies, including allegations of clandestine election funding and state investigations into potential financial misconduct related to a gambling company contract. Rivera has consistently denied engaging in illegal lobbying for Venezuela’s government and has launched countersuits against Maduro’s opponents at the head of PDVSA’s U.S. subsidiary.
The unfolding legal challenges facing David Rivera highlight ongoing concerns about the intersection of politics, foreign influence, and financial misconduct. As the case progresses, it will surely continue to captivate attention, shedding light on the intricate networks of lobbying activities that often operate behind the scenes.
Source: Nbcmiami
