Trending Now - Rubio Set to Testify Against Ex-roommate in Lobbying Case

WHO:

Marco Rubio, Secretary of State

David Rivera, former congressman

Nicolás Maduro, former president of Venezuela

Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela’s acting president

Pete Sessions, Texas Republican Representative

Raúl Gorrín, Venezuelan media tycoon

Darren Woods, CEO of Exxon

Susie Wiles, White House chief of staff

Marco Rubio, Secretary of State

David Rivera, former congressman

Nicolás Maduro, former president of Venezuela

Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela’s acting president

Pete Sessions, Texas Republican Representative

Raúl Gorrín, Venezuelan media tycoon

Darren Woods, CEO of Exxon

Marco Rubio, Secretary of State

David Rivera, former congressman

Nicolás Maduro, former president of Venezuela

Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela’s acting president

Pete Sessions, Texas Republican Representative

Raúl Gorrín, Venezuelan media tycoon

Susie Wiles, White House chief of staff

Darren Woods, CEO of Exxon

WHAT:

Rivera allegedly persuaded Delcy Rodríguez to award him a $50 million lobbying contract.

Rivera's defense claims his firm was hired by an American subsidiary of PDVSA, not PDVSA itself.

Rivera received approximately $20 million, with $3.75 million going to a South Florida company for maintaining Gorrín’s luxury yacht.

Rubio's expected testimony is highly unusual; it is the first time a sitting member of the president’s Cabinet has testified in a criminal trial since Labor Secretary Raymond Donovan in 1983.

Rivera allegedly received a secret $50 million contract from the U.S. subsidiary of Venezuela’s state oil company PDVSA.

Prosecutors allege Rivera was aided by a convicted Cali cartel associate in his lobbying efforts.

Rivera's defense claims his firm was hired by an American subsidiary of PDVSA, not PDVSA itself, and therefore did not need to register as a foreign agent.

Plaintiffs in a parallel civil case accuse Rivera of using the contract as cover for illegal lobbying.

David Rivera is on trial for allegedly secretly lobbying for Venezuela’s government.

Rivera allegedly received a $50 million lobbying contract from Venezuela’s state oil company PDVSA.

An 11-count indictment unsealed in 2022 charges Rivera and an associate with money laundering and failing to register as a foreign agent.

Rivera allegedly set up an encrypted chat group called MIA to coordinate lobbying efforts.

Rivera received approximately $20 million, with $3.75 million going to a South Florida company for maintaining Gorrín’s luxury yacht.

Rubio is expected to testify about his meetings with Rivera regarding Venezuela.

WHERE:

The trial is taking place in a federal courtroom in downtown Miami.

Meetings between Rivera and Rubio occurred in Washington, D.C., and other locations including New York, Caracas, and Dallas.

WHEN:

The trial began on March 23rd, 2026.

Rubio's testimony is scheduled for March 24th, 2026.

Rivera and Rubio met on July 9th, 2017.

The trial began on March 23rd, 2026.

Rubio's testimony is scheduled for March 24th, 2026.

The trial begins on March 23rd, 2026.

Rivera and Rubio met on July 9th, 2017.

The indictment was unsealed in 2022.

Rubio's testimony is scheduled for March 24th, 2026.

WHY:

Prosecutors allege Rivera was hired to leverage Republican connections to influence U.S. policy on Venezuela.

Rivera sought to negotiate an end to U.S. sanctions against Venezuela.

HOW:

Rivera set up an encrypted chat group called MIA to coordinate lobbying efforts, using code words to discuss activities.

Members of Rivera's encrypted chat group used code words: Maduro was referred to as the “bus driver,” Sessions as “Sombrero,” and millions of dollars as “melons.”

Rivera allegedly used code words in communications to discuss lobbying activities.

Rivera arranged meetings with Rubio and others to discuss strategies for Venezuela.

Rivera's defense claims his consulting work was legitimate and focused on positioning Citgo in the U.S. energy industry.

(UPDATED March 23, 2026 17:49 UTC)

Today marks the start of a high-profile trial involving David Rivera, who is accused of persuading Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, to award him a $50 million lobbying contract. Notably, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to testify tomorrow, making this the first time a sitting Cabinet member has appeared in a criminal trial since 1983. Prosecutors allege that Rivera used his Republican connections to influence U.S. policy on Venezuela, coordinating his efforts through an encrypted chat group called MIA.

(UPDATED March 23, 2026 09:23 UTC)

The trial involving David Rivera began today, with prosecutors alleging that he received a secret $50 million contract from the U.S. subsidiary of Venezuela’s state oil company, PDVSA, aided by a convicted associate of the Cali cartel. Rivera's defense argues that his firm was hired by an American subsidiary, which they claim does not require registration as a foreign agent, while plaintiffs in a related civil case accuse him of using the contract for illegal lobbying. Notably, members of Rivera's encrypted chat group used code names for key figures, referring to Nicolás Maduro as the “bus driver” and Pete Sessions as “Sombrero.”

(UPDATED March 23, 2026 07:32 UTC)

Today marks the beginning of the trial for David Rivera in a federal courtroom in downtown Miami, where he faces serious charges for allegedly secretly lobbying on behalf of Venezuela's government. Prosecutors claim Rivera received a $50 million contract from Venezuela's state oil company and coordinated his efforts through an encrypted chat group, while Senator Marco Rubio is expected to testify about their meetings regarding U.S. policy on Venezuela. Rivera's defense argues that his consulting work was legitimate and aimed at positioning Citgo within the U.S. energy sector.