The criminal trial of a former congressman is offering a glimpse into the prehistory of the ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. A top Washington lobbyist close to President Donald Trump has testified about a $50 million contract between Maduro's government and former Rep. David Rivera. Prosecutors say Rivera lobbied for Venezuela without registering. Rivera says he didn't have to register because he was consulting with a U.S. affiliate of Venezuela's oil company. Testimony has exposed covert lobbying involving Delcy Rodriguez, now Venezuela's acting president, and Susie Wiles, now Trump's chief of staff, as well as a Venezuelan billionaire who allegedly funneled embezzled oil money to both sides.
