Why It Matters
A federal jury in Florida has convicted former U.S. Representative David Rivera on charges of conspiracy, failing to register as a foreign agent, and related crimes tied to undisclosed lobbying work for Venezuela’s state-controlled oil company. The verdict underscores ongoing federal enforcement of foreign-agent disclosure laws and marks a rare prosecution of a former member of Congress for illegal lobbying activity.
Rivera, who represented Florida’s 25th Congressional District from 2011 to 2013, was ordered detained after the verdict due to flight-risk concerns. He showed minimal reaction as the guilty findings were read in court.
What Happened
Prosecutors said Rivera and his associate, political consultant Esther Nuhfer, received a $50 million contract in 2017 and 2018 to lobby U.S. officials on behalf of a subsidiary of PDVSA, Venezuela’s state oil firm also known as Citgo. The three-month contract was part of what federal attorneys described as a secret influence campaign aimed at improving U.S.-Venezuela relations during a period of heightened tension and sanctions under the Trump administration.
The six-week trial included testimony from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a longtime friend and former housemate of Rivera’s, as well as Texas Representative Pete Sessions. Both officials testified they had no knowledge of Rivera’s lobbying efforts. Prosecutors alleged Rivera and Nuhfer attempted to reach Rubio and former White House advisor Kellyanne Conway as part of the campaign, which was directed by the government of then-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Defense attorneys argued Rivera’s contract was with a U.S.-based subsidiary rather than the Venezuelan government itself, meaning foreign-agent registration was not required. They also claimed Rivera was working to oust Maduro rather than normalize diplomatic ties. A jury disagreed, convicting both Rivera and Nuhfer on multiple counts.
By the Numbers
The contract at the center of the case was valued at $50 million for three months of work. Rivera served one term in Congress, from 2011 to 2013. The lobbying activity took place in 2017 and 2018, during a period when the U.S. had imposed sanctions on Venezuela. Maduro was captured in a U.S. military operation in January 2025 and is awaiting trial in New York on drug-related charges.
Zoom Out
The conviction reflects broader federal efforts to enforce the Foreign Agents Registration Act, which requires individuals lobbying on behalf of foreign governments to disclose their activities. Violations have drawn increased scrutiny in recent years, particularly in cases involving authoritarian governments seeking influence in Washington. Rivera’s case is among the most high-profile prosecutions of a former lawmaker under the statute.
Rubio, who was not implicated in any wrongdoing, testified that despite his long friendship with Rivera, he was unaware of the lobbying work. Relations between the U.S. and Venezuela have remained strained, with Maduro’s recent capture marking a significant escalation in U.S. policy toward the South American nation.
What’s Next
Rivera faces sentencing on the conspiracy and foreign-agent charges, with penalties likely to include prison time. His detention order suggests the court views him as a flight risk pending that hearing. Nuhfer also awaits sentencing following her conviction. Both defendants could appeal the verdicts.
The case may prompt renewed congressional and law-enforcement attention to undisclosed foreign lobbying, particularly involving officials with prior government service. Rivera’s legal team has not yet indicated whether an appeal will be filed.