Shocking Indictment: Former Congressman David Rivera Exposed as Unregistered Foreign Agent

MIAMI (AP) — Former Congressman David Rivera, a Miami Republican, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Washington for failing to register as a foreign agent while allegedly lobbying on behalf of sanctioned Venezuelan media tycoon Raúl Gorrín.

The indictment, unsealed Wednesday, marks the second set of criminal charges linked to Rivera’s dealings with Gorrín. The billionaire businessman has faced charges in both 2018 and 2024 for allegedly bribing senior Venezuelan officials to embezzle state funds under President Nicolas Maduro’s administration.

Prosecutors from the U.S. Justice Department’s National Security Division allege that between June 2019 and April 2020, Rivera lobbied U.S. officials, including a senior executive branch official, to remove sanctions imposed on Gorrín. Rivera allegedly received over $5.5 million from Gorrín or his representatives for his efforts.

The indictment further claims Rivera funneled $125,000 to an unnamed former U.S. official and New York resident to aid in the lobbying campaign. However, Rivera did not register as a foreign agent as required by U.S. law.

This case adds to Rivera’s legal troubles and underscores heightened scrutiny of foreign influence in U.S. politics. As the investigation continues, it raises questions about the extent of Gorrín’s efforts to use intermediaries to manipulate U.S. policy. Rivera has not yet commented on the indictment.