Rubio testifies in trial of ex-roommate accused of Venezuela lobbying

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio testified Tuesday in the federal trial of former Florida congressman David Rivera, a longtime friend and former roommate, who is accused of acting as an unregistered foreign agent for Venezuela's government under Nicolas Maduro. The testimony marked the first time a sitting Cabinet member has testified in a criminal case since 1983.

Alleged scheme detailed

Rivera and political consultant Esther Nuhfer are accused of agreeing to a $50 million contract to secretly lobby the first Trump administration to soften its stance on Maduro's government. Rubio, who faces no charges in the case, acknowledged his friendship with Rivera before the court but said he had no involvement in or knowledge of the alleged scheme.

Rubio's testimony

Rubio described a July 2017 meeting Rivera arranged to present a plan for transitioning Venezuela's leadership, testifying he would not have taken subsequent action had he known Rivera was representing Venezuelan government interests. "It most certainly would have influenced my decision to meet with him," Rubio said, according to the Washington Post. When a second meeting Rivera set up with a Venezuelan telecommunications magnate, Rubio became frustrated. "It was more of the same. I was frankly angry and frustrated," he testified. "Why would I waste my time with a stupid meeting?"

Prosecution's case

Federal prosecutors allege Rivera and Nuhfer also sought to influence Rubio and former White House adviser Kellyanne Conway on Maduro's behalf. Rubio's testimony is considered crucial to the government's case, which centers on whether Rivera's lobbying efforts were conducted with the knowledge of US officials who could have been influenced by his work.