Overview
- Rubio, who took the stand Tuesday in Miami, said he did not know Rivera was working for Nicolás Maduro and described 2017 meetings where he was urged to back a negotiated transition.
- Rivera faces an 11-count indictment unsealed in 2022 that includes money laundering and acting as an unregistered foreign agent under FARA, a law that requires disclosure when paid to influence U.S. policy for a foreign principal.
- Prosecutors say Rivera was paid about $20 million under a $50 million contract tied to Venezuela’s oil interests and sought to soften sanctions by arranging access to U.S. officials and Exxon’s CEO.
- Evidence described by prosecutors includes an encrypted “MIA” chat that used code names and work with media tycoon Raúl Gorrín, as well as efforts to set up meetings for Delcy Rodríguez and outreach involving Rep. Pete Sessions.
- The defense says the work was commercial for Citgo’s U.S. affiliate and focused on luring Exxon back, argues a FARA exemption, and notes U.S. policy hardened anyway; the trial features tight limits on some subpoenas, other high-profile witnesses on deck, and context from Venezuela’s leadership change this year.