Rep. Pete Sessions testifies during ex-Rep. David Rivera’s federal trial in Miami

Isabella Martin, Reporter
Liane Morejon, Reporter
Andrea Torres, Digital Journalist

Published: 

Tags: Miami-Dade County, Miami, Legal News, Courts, David Rivera, Pete Sessions

FILE PHOTO: Former congressman David Rivera arrives at the James Lawrence King Federal Building on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Joshua Goodman) (Joshua Goodman/AP)

MIAMI — Rep. Pete Sessions was testifying on Monday during a federal trial in Miami against former Rep. David Rivera.

Rivera is on trial on charges of acting as an unregistered agent for Venezuela, conspiring to commit money laundering, and tax evasion.

Prosecutors filed the case on Nov. 16, 2022, over a $50 million consulting contract with Venezuela’s state-run oil company, Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A., or PDVSA.

Sessions allegedly attempted to broker a meeting for now-acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez with Exxon’s CEO and met with then-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas after Rivera and media tycoon Raúl Gorrín set up the meeting.

Rivera’s defense attorneys claim his work was legitimate. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2013 and in the Florida House of Representatives from 2002 to 2010.

This is a developing story.

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About The Author
Isabella Martin

Isabella Martin

Isabella Martin joined the reporting team at WPLG in July 2025.

Liane Morejon

Liane Morejon

Liane Morejon is an Emmy-winning reporter who joined the Local 10 News family in January 2010.

Andrea Torres

Andrea Torres

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.