In an extraordinary courtroom appearance, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio provided testimony Tuesday regarding his dealings with former Florida Congressman David Rivera, who faces serious charges of clandestine lobbying for Venezuela’s government. The federal trial, unfolding under tight security in Miami, centers on allegations that Rivera and an associate orchestrated a $50 million influence operation for Nicolás Maduro’s administration without proper registration as foreign agents.
Rubio recounted his longstanding personal relationship with Rivera, detailing how the two politicians developed close ties during their overlapping service in Florida’s legislature and later in Washington. The Secretary described a pivotal July 2017 meeting where Rivera presented an unconventional proposal involving Venezuelan media magnate Raul Gorrin to facilitate Maduro’s departure from power.
Despite expressing skepticism about the plan’s viability, Rubio acknowledged he pursued the opportunity on the remote chance it might yield diplomatic progress. Drawing on terminology supplied by Rivera, the then-senator delivered a carefully worded Senate address signaling Washington’s willingness to avoid retaliation against Venezuelan officials who might oppose Maduro.
Prosecutors allege the defendants established elaborate communication protocols, including a coded chat group using Spanish-language cryptonyms such as ‘Little Cuban’ for Rubio and ‘The Lady in Red’ for Venezuela’s current acting president Delcy Rodríguez. The government contends the operation aimed to normalize U.S.-Venezuela relations during the Trump administration—an objective that has gained renewed relevance following recent political shifts in Caracas.
Rivera’s defense team maintains their client’s consulting work focused exclusively on commercial matters involving Venezuela’s state oil company and was legally exempt from foreign agent registration requirements. They sharply distinguish this work from what they characterize as Rivera’s separate efforts to support Venezuelan opposition groups.