MIAMI (AP) — A federal trial began Monday for former Miami congressman David Rivera, accused of secretly lobbying for Venezuela during the Trump administration. Notably, Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to testify regarding his interactions with Rivera, who has been charged with working in favor of Venezuela's socialist government under Nicolás Maduro.

Prosecutors claim that David Rivera utilized his connections from his time in Congress to persuade the White House to soften its stance against Maduro's regime. The indictment suggests that Rivera was involved in negotiating a $50 million lobbying contract with Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela's acting president and then Foreign Minister, with the payment coming from the state oil company PDVSA. Rivera allegedly collaborated with Texas Republican Rep. Pete Sessions and a convicted associate of the Cali cartel in pursuing meetings with the White House and Exxon Mobil on behalf of the Venezuelan government.

The proceedings shine a light on Miami's role in influencing U.S. policy towards Latin America, particularly given the city's history as a hub for exiles and anti-communist activities. As the case unfolds, Rubio is set to testify about the meetings he had with Rivera while the latter allegedly assisted Maduro in improving his image in Washington.

The trial comes in the context of an 11-count indictment unsealed in 2022, which charges Rivera and political consultant Esther Nuhfer with money laundering and failing to register as foreign agents. Prosecutors explain that Rivera created an encrypted chat group named MIA to coordinate with his main contact in the Maduro government, Venezuelan media mogul Raúl Gorrín, who had also been charged with bribery in the U.S.

In the chat group, participants employed playful code words to disguise their activities; Maduro was referred to as the “bus driver,” Sessions as “Sombrero,” Rodríguez as “The Lady in Red,” and millions of dollars as “melons.” Rivera, aged 60, denies any wrongdoing, asserting that his firm, Interamerican Consulting, was contracted by an American subsidiary of PDVSA and was not obligated to register as a foreign agent. His defense claims that the contract aimed solely at attracting Exxon back to Venezuela.

Rivera’s attorney, Ed Shohat, described the case as lacking substantive evidence, comparing it to various crimes without the actual crime being committed. The defense insists that Rivera's interactions with Rubio and others were independent from any consulting work he had regarding Maduro and focused instead on efforts to support opposition figures against Maduro.

In a parallel civil case, plaintiffs accuse Rivera of underperforming on his contract and using it as a pretext for illegal lobbying activities. It has been reported that a substantial portion of the money he received was funneled to a company that managed Gorrín’s luxury yacht.

Rubio's impending testimony is unprecedented, as it has been decades since a sitting Cabinet member testified in a criminal trial. While Rubio is not charged with any wrongdoing, prosecutors argue that Rivera regarded him as a critical ally for outreach to the White House, especially given threats against Rubio purportedly from Diosdado Cabello, a powerful figure in the Venezuelan government.

The indictment details Rivera's meetings with Rubio, including one in July 2017 when Rivera claimed to have secured a commitment from Maduro for free and fair elections. This prompted Rivera to message Rubio, urging the senator to present a conciliatory approach in his discussions with Trump, emphasizing the need for reconciliation rather than vengeance. Later communications indicated Rivera's belief that without Rubio's support, their outreach efforts would fail.

As outreach efforts began to fall apart, Trump's administration tightened sanctions against Maduro, marking the shift to a more aggressive U.S. stance. Rubio publicly condemned Maduro, reinforcing his commitment to oppose the Venezuelan regime.

Following the $50 million contract's signing, Rivera and Gorrín attempted to arrange a meeting between Rodríguez and Sessions, who was expected to facilitate discussions to address Exxon’s investment issues in Venezuela. However, those meetings fell through as Exxon lawyers rejected the proposals, prompting further complications in Rivera's lobbying efforts.

Both Rivera and Sessions have faced scrutiny for their past actions, with Rivera previously embroiled in controversies regarding campaign financing and influence. He has consistently denied any allegations of wrongdoing, labeling investigations against him as politically motivated.