Former GOP Rep. David Rivera sentenced to 10 years for secret Venezuela lobbying - Bay to Bay News

Former Republican U.S. Rep. David Rivera was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison over a secret $50 million lobbying campaign on Venezuela’s behalf during the first Trump administration. Rivera, 61, has been jailed since jurors convicted him in May on all counts, including failing to register as a foreign agent and conspiracy to commit money laundering connected to work for former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s government. Judge Melissa Damian said the money came from the Maduro regime and criticized Rivera for betraying his anti-communist mission. The seven-week trial highlighted Miami’s role in foreign influence efforts aimed at U.S. policy toward Latin America. Rivera’s attorneys plan to appeal and requested a presidential pardon in June; he also faces additional federal charges in Washington, D.C.