Marco Rubio testifies in former housemate's Maduro lobbying trial

Rubio's former housemate is charged with illegally trying to influence the first Trump administration on behalf of the Venezuelan government.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to testify in the federal trial of his longtime friend and former U.S. Representative David Rivera, who is accused of secretly lobbying for Venezuela's government under Nicolás Maduro.

In a rare appearance by a sitting U.S. Cabinet member, Secretary of State Marco Rubio testified in a Miami federal courtroom that he was unaware former Florida congressman David Rivera was allegedly lobbying for Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro when the two met in 2017 to discuss U.S. policy toward the country.

In a trial shedding light on U.S.-Venezuela dealings, former U.S. Senator Marco Rubio testified about his involvement with David Rivera, a close friend and political ally, who is accused of secretly lobbying on behalf of Venezuela’s government without registering as a foreign agent.

The federal trial of former Miami congressman David Rivera began in Miami, where he is accused of secretly lobbying for Venezuela’s government under Nicolás Maduro, using his political connections to influence U.S. policy during the Trump administration.

El secretario de Estado de EE.UU., Marco Rubio, declaró como testigo en un juicio en Miami vinculado al régimen de Nicolás Maduro. Rubio testificó que no sabía que su amigo de larga data, el excongresista David Rivera, tenía un contrato de 50 millones de dólares con Citgo, subsidiaria de la petrolera estatal venezolana PDVSA, cuando discutieron sobre Venezuela en 2017.