A federal judge has handed down a decade-long prison sentence to a former Miami congressman and close associate of a U.S. secretary of state for his role in a covert lobbying effort linked to Venezuela. The case stems from a $50 million campaign allegedly conducted during the early years of the Trump administration, raising questions about foreign influence in American politics. Authorities allege the scheme involved undisclosed payments and coordination with Venezuelan officials. The ruling marks a rare legal consequence for high-profile figures tied to such international lobbying activities.
A former Miami congressman and longtime friend of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison in connection with a secret $50 million lobbying campaign on Venezuela’s behalf during the first Trump administration.
