It wasn’t that long ago that former Miami-Dade GOP Congressman David Rivera was riding high. The son of Cuban immigrants who fled the Castro regime, he turned his anti-communist fervor into a political career. He was elected to Congress in 2010 but lost his reelection bid two years later amid investigations over ethics violations, including allegations of misusing campaign funds.
Now it’s more than just rumors, though, because he’s just been convicted of serious crimes involving illegal foreign lobbying efforts:
A Miami federal jury on Friday convicted former Miami-Dade Congressman David Rivera and consultant Esther Nuhfer on charges of failing to register as foreign agents when they lobbied major U.S. politicians in a scheme to “normalize” relations with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro after Rivera had signed a $50 million contract with the American arm of Venezuela’s national oil company.
The 12-person jury found Rivera and Nuhfer guilty of breaking a foreign-agent registration law when they secretly worked on Venezuela’s behalf while they lobbied their friend, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, and other U.S. officials in 2017 and 2018.
CASE UPDATE from #FBIMiamiFL: Former U.S. Congressman and Lobbyist Convicted of Acting as Unregistered Agents of Venezuela in Connection with $50 Million Contract
— FBI (@FBI) May 5, 2026
A federal jury in Miami found a former U.S. Congressman David Rivera guilty of secretly lobbying on behalf of the… pic.twitter.com/5zMPPrrkeZ
CASE UPDATE from #FBIMiamiFL: Former U.S. Congressman and Lobbyist Convicted of Acting as Unregistered Agents of Venezuela in Connection with $50 Million Contract
A federal jury in Miami found a former U.S. Congressman David Rivera guilty of secretly lobbying on behalf of the Venezuelan government and laundering millions of dollars tied to that work, in violation of the Foreign Agent Registration Act.
Army Special Ops Soldier Charged by DOJ for Using Classified Info on Maduro Op to Win Wager
Let It Flow: US Oil Companies Closing in on Big Deals With Post-Maduro Venezuela
Rivera was good buddies with Cuban-American Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has long wanted change in the communist island country, which is only 90 miles off Key West:
Prosecutors presented evidence during the five-week trial that Venezuela’s state-run oil company had hired Rivera’s consulting firm in 2017 and 2018 to ease tensions between the two countries and end U.S. sanctions on the South American country.
Rivera is a longtime friend and former roommate of Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Rubio, Texas Rep. Pete Sessions (R) and a top Washington lobbyist all testified that they were unaware of the consulting contract with PDV USA, the U.S. affiliate of Venezuela’s state oil company.
The Department of Justice posted the news to their official website Friday, noting that our government is not for sale:
“These convictions expose a simple truth: the defendants sold access and influence to a hostile foreign regime for money,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “They accepted millions tied to the Maduro regime, concealed that relationship from the United States government, and used trusted personal and political relationships to secretly advance the interests of Venezuela’s regime. In South Florida, where so many families fled communist oppression, that kind of betrayal carries real weight. The Foreign Agents Registration Act exists to protect transparency and safeguard our democracy from covert foreign influence. If you secretly act on behalf of a foreign government in violation of federal law, you will be investigated, prosecuted, and convicted.”
"Today’s verdict sends a clear and powerful message: our democratic processes are not for sale to foreign adversaries.
The road ahead for Rivera looks rough: he faces up to 60 years in prison for the convictions. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
Editor’s Note: The American people overwhelmingly support President Trump’s law and order agenda.
Help us fight back against the Democrats and Soros-backed DAs that refuse to enforce our laws to hold criminals accountable. Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to receive 60% off your membership.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member