MIAMI (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio testified in court on Tuesday regarding his past interactions with former congressman David Rivera, who is accused of secretly lobbying for the Venezuelan government nearly a decade ago. Rivera, alongside an associate, faces charges of money laundering and failing to register as a foreign agent after securing a $50 million lobbying contract from Nicolás Maduro's administration.
Rubio, recalling their six-year tenure together in the Florida Legislature, described Rivera as a longtime friend. He stated that he and Rivera were 'very close' during their time in Tallahassee.
The defendants allegedly sought to arrange meetings for then-Foreign Minister Delcy Rodríguez, present-day acting president of Venezuela, with high-level officials in cities such as Dallas, New York, Washington, and Caracas.
Prosecutors contend that Rivera and his associate engaged in deceptive practices, including forming a chat group named 'MIA'—an abbreviation for Miami—using code words to conceal their activities. For instance, 'Little Cuban' referred to Rubio, 'The Lady in Red' indicated Rodríguez, and 'melons' represented millions of dollars.
Prosecutors assert that the objective of the contract was to sway the Trump administration into normalizing relations with Maduro, an aim that seemed fruitless at the time but has gained traction following Maduro's recent political shifts.
In his opening statements, prosecutor Roger Cruz emphasized that the case revolves around 'greed and betrayal,' claiming the defendants formed an alliance to covertly lobby for Maduro and Rodríguez.
Rivera, defending himself, argues that his firm operated under a contract with an American subsidiary of Venezuela's state oil company, which he contends did not necessitate foreign agent registration. His defense, emphasizing the legitimacy of his contract aimed solely at bringing Exxon back to Venezuela, labels the government's theory as 'preposterous.'
Rubio's testimony is notable and historically significant, as he is the first sitting member of the Cabinet to testify in a criminal trial since Labor Secretary Raymond Donovan did so in 1983.
Rubio, recalling their six-year tenure together in the Florida Legislature, described Rivera as a longtime friend. He stated that he and Rivera were 'very close' during their time in Tallahassee.
The defendants allegedly sought to arrange meetings for then-Foreign Minister Delcy Rodríguez, present-day acting president of Venezuela, with high-level officials in cities such as Dallas, New York, Washington, and Caracas.
Prosecutors contend that Rivera and his associate engaged in deceptive practices, including forming a chat group named 'MIA'—an abbreviation for Miami—using code words to conceal their activities. For instance, 'Little Cuban' referred to Rubio, 'The Lady in Red' indicated Rodríguez, and 'melons' represented millions of dollars.
Prosecutors assert that the objective of the contract was to sway the Trump administration into normalizing relations with Maduro, an aim that seemed fruitless at the time but has gained traction following Maduro's recent political shifts.
In his opening statements, prosecutor Roger Cruz emphasized that the case revolves around 'greed and betrayal,' claiming the defendants formed an alliance to covertly lobby for Maduro and Rodríguez.
Rivera, defending himself, argues that his firm operated under a contract with an American subsidiary of Venezuela's state oil company, which he contends did not necessitate foreign agent registration. His defense, emphasizing the legitimacy of his contract aimed solely at bringing Exxon back to Venezuela, labels the government's theory as 'preposterous.'
Rubio's testimony is notable and historically significant, as he is the first sitting member of the Cabinet to testify in a criminal trial since Labor Secretary Raymond Donovan did so in 1983.
