Secretary of State Marco Rubio appeared in a Miami court to testify in a federal criminal trial against his longtime friend and former Republican congressman, David Rivera. Rivera faces serious charges, including money laundering and conspiracy. Prosecutors say Rivera received a $50 million contract to lobby President Donald Trump’s administration to soften its position on Venezuela.
The alleged deal was reportedly arranged by Delcy Rodríguez, who was Venezuela’s foreign minister at the time and is now the acting president, with payments made through the state oil company, PDVSA. Rubio’s testimony focused on his relationship with Rivera and their shared efforts to oppose Venezuelan socialist leader Nicolás Maduro, who is currently in U.S. custody facing narcoterrorism charges.
