Former Rep. David Rivera, R-Fla., has been indicted for allegedly violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and laundering funds to conceal his criminal conduct. The charges stem from his alleged role as an agent for Raul Gorrín Belisario, a Venezuelan national involved in a corruption scheme to bribe the national treasurer of Venezuela. Rivera is accused of lobbying U.S. government officials on Gorrín’s behalf and creating shell companies to hide his crimes. The alleged scheme took place in 2019 and 2020.
Under FARA, individuals working on behalf of foreign interests must register with the U.S. government. Rivera’s attorney and the FBI Miami Field Office, which is investigating the case, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. This is not Rivera’s first legal trouble – he was previously arrested and indicted in 2022 for acting as an agent of the Venezuelan government without registering.
Rivera served in Congress from 2011 to 2013 and has denied the FARA allegations, calling the indictment a politicized attack against a Republican. This latest development comes amid ongoing scrutiny of politicians and lobbyists who work on behalf of foreign interests. Rivera’s case highlights the importance of compliance with FARA regulations and the consequences of failing to do so.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com