On Tuesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio took the witness stand in Miami federal court against his longtime friend and former Florida congressman David Rivera, in a dramatic moment in a case centered on allegations that Rivera secretly lobbied for Venezuela's government without registering as a foreign agent.
Prosecutors say Rivera and political consultant Esther Nuhfer used a $50 million contract tied to Citgo, a U.S. subsidiary of Venezuela's state oil company, to influence U.S. policy during the first Trump administration. Rivera and Nuhfer have pleaded not guilty. Rubio's appearance was unusual not only because of his current role as the nation's top diplomat, but also because of his personal history with Rivera.
