Former Rep. David Rivera Sentenced to 10 Years Over Secret Venezuela Lobbying
publishers 25articles 26first reported 2 Oct, 18:45 UTCdeveloping since 3 Oct · 7 editions
Former Republican U.S. Rep. David Rivera was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison for concealing a $50 million lobbying campaign on behalf of Venezuela during President Donald Trump’s first administration.
Rivera, 61, was convicted in May of conspiracy to commit money laundering and failing to register as a foreign agent for the government of Nicolás Maduro. Prosecutors said Rivera used his Republican connections in an effort to persuade the Trump administration to normalize relations with Venezuela while hiding a consulting contract with a U.S.-based affiliate of state oil company PDVSA.
At trial, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Texas Rep. Pete Sessions and a Washington lobbyist testified that Rivera never disclosed the contract. Prosecutors alleged that Rivera and political consultant Esther Nuhfer sought to influence prominent officials, including Rubio and Sessions. Nuhfer received a five-year sentence.
U.S. District Judge Melissa Damian said the money came from the Maduro government and criticized Rivera for betraying the anti-communist principles on which he built his political career. Rivera asked for leniency, citing his age and health following prostate cancer, and denied prosecutors’ characterization of him as a grifter.
Rivera’s lawyers have sought a presidential pardon and plan to appeal. His lawyers are also defending him against a related foreign-lobbying case in Washington, D.C. Damian has not yet ruled on the government’s request that Rivera forfeit $20 million in alleged criminal proceeds.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 1 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 20 h after the record first saw the story; the editor revised it.
- Publishers
- 25
- Source articles
- 26
- Given to the writer
- 8, 1 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 20 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- revised
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and changed it before publication. Struck words were in the draft; underlined words are its corrections.
WHAT IT FLAGGED editor revise: Several details need tightening to match the source’s wording on who testified, Rubio’s role, and the related Washington case. - "At trial, Trump’s secretary of state, Texas Rep. Pete Sessions and a Washington lobbyist testified that Rivera never disclosed the contract.": The source says President Donald Trump’s secretary of state, Rep. Pete Sessions of Texas and a top Washington lobbyist testified; the story omits Marco Rubio's name, making 'Trump’s secretary of state' ambiguous and potentially misleading. - "Prosecutors alleged that Rivera and political consultant Esther Nuhfer sought to influence prominent officials, including Sessions and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.": The source says Rivera and Nuhfer sought to manipulate influential friends, including Rubio and Sessions; changing Rubio's role to 'Secretary of State' is an unsupported detail in the context of the alleged influence effort. - "He also faces a related foreign-lobbying case in Washington, D.C.": The source says Rivera's lawyers are defending him against a related foreign lobbying case in Washington, D.C., but does not explicitly state he faces the case; this is a minor phrasing issue but can be corrected to match the source.
THE DRAFT AND THE CHANGES
Former Rep. David Rivera Sentenced to 10 Years Over Secret Venezuela Lobbying
Former Republican U.S. Rep. David Rivera was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison for concealing a $50 million lobbying campaign on behalf of Venezuela during President Donald Trump’s first administration.
Rivera, 61, was convicted in May of conspiracy to commit money laundering and failing to register as a foreign agent for the government of Nicolás Maduro. Prosecutors said Rivera used his Republican connections in an effort to persuade the Trump administration to normalize relations with Venezuela while hiding a consulting contract with a U.S.-based affiliate of state oil company PDVSA.
At trial, Trump’s secretarySecretary of state,State Marco Rubio, Texas Rep. Pete Sessions and a Washington lobbyist testified that Rivera never disclosed the contract. Prosecutors alleged that Rivera and political consultant Esther Nuhfer sought to influence prominent officials, including SessionsRubio and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.Sessions. Nuhfer received a five-year sentence.
U.S. District Judge Melissa Damian said the money came from the Maduro government and criticized Rivera for betraying the anti-communist principles on which he built his political career. Rivera asked for leniency, citing his age and health following prostate cancer, and denied prosecutors’ characterization of him as a grifter.
Rivera’s lawyers have sought a presidential pardon and plan to appeal. HeHis lawyers are also facesdefending him against a related foreign-lobbying case in Washington, D.C. Damian has not yet ruled on the government’s request that Rivera forfeit $20 million in alleged criminal proceeds.
Written by a language model from the sources above, then checked by a second model that may only cut, attribute or correct. How it works →