Secretary of State Marco Rubio testified in court that he had no knowledge that former Florida congressman David Rivera was lobbying on behalf of Venezuela’s government — as prosecutors later alleged — when he met with his longtime friend to discuss U.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio testified at the foreign-agent trial of former Miami-Dade Congressman David Rivera.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio is testifying on Tuesday in Miami, Florida, in the federal trial of former Miami congressman and roommate David Rivera.

Prosecutors allege Rivera lobbied US officials in 2017 to ease pressure on Nicolas Maduro without disclosing he was paid $20 million by a subsidiary of Venezuela’s state oil company, violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

MIAMI (AP) — El secretario de Estado Marco Rubio testificó el martes en un tribunal que no tenía conocimiento de que el excongresista de Florida David Rivera estuviera haciendo cabildeo a nombre del gobierno de Venezuela —como lo afirma la fiscalía— cuando se reunió varias veces con su amigo para hablar sobre la política de Estados Unidos hacia el país sudamericano al inicio del primer mandato del presidente Donald Trump.

Marco Rubio testified that he was unaware of allegations against David Rivera regarding lobbying for Venezuela. Rivera faces serious charges related to a lobbying contract with Maduro's government.

By Luc Cohen MIAMI, March 24 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio took the witness stand on Tuesday to testify in former U.S. Congressman David Rivera's criminal trial on charges of acting as an unregistered agent of ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government.

Ex-Miami-Dade Congressman David Rivera and consultant Esther Nuhfer start trial in Miami on charges of being unregistered foreign agents.