"Rubio testified Rivera didn't mention he had struck a $50 million consulting deal with CITGO, the U.S.-based subsidiary of Venezuela's state-owned oil company PDVSA. 'It would have been of interest to me because I would have known that ... he was representing an entity controlled by the Venezuelan government,' Rubio testified."
"Rubio also testified that Rivera, like him, is 'a vociferous anti-communist voice ... one of the leading voices against the Castro regime' and 'a strong anti-Maduro voice.'"
"Rubio's testimony cut to key questions in the case: Was Rivera working on behalf of Maduro's government (as the government alleges) as it sought to normalize relations? Or was Rivera (as he argues) actually working against the interests of Maduro by seeking to have him peacefully leave office?"
On January 3, U.S. special forces removed Maduro from Caracas, influenced by Rubio's testimony about Rivera's undisclosed $50 million consulting deal with CITGO. Rubio expressed that he would have been concerned had he known Rivera represented a Venezuelan government entity. He challenged Rivera's defense regarding foreign agent registration and stated he would not have met Rivera had he known of the contract. The case raises questions about Rivera's true intentions, whether he was working for or against Maduro's interests, and the nature of his relationship with Rubio.
Read at Axios
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