David Rivera is charged with conspiracy to launder money and failing to register as a foreign agent. An indictment accuses him of acting as a lobbyist for Venezuela without registering with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Lawyers representing Rivera did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday. David Rivera has been embroiled in legal battles over a $50 million lobbying contract he signed with Venezuela’s state-owned oil company. Rivera is a longtime friend and former housemate of Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), an influential shaper of U.S. policy toward Venezuela.
