David Rivera

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In January 2009, Rivera filed to run for the state senate seat being vacated by J. Alex Villalobos. [9] However, when neighboring U.S. Congressman Lincoln Díaz-Balart decided not to run for another term in 2010, his brother, U.S. Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart, opted to run for a new term in Lincoln's district rather than his current one. This created an opening in the seat and prompted Rivera to announce he would run for Florida's 25th congressional district on February 25, 2010. On August 24, he won the Republican primary with 63% of the vote. [10] On November 2, Rivera defeated Democratic nominee Joe Garcia 52%–43%. [11]

2012

Redistricting resulted in Rivera's district being renumbered as the 26th district. It lost its share of Collier County and picked up the Florida Keys, as well as portions of Miami-Dade County. While the old 25th leaned Republican, the new 26th is more of a swing district and is equally split between Democrats and Republicans. In a rematch from 2010, Garcia defeated Rivera 54%–43%. [12] [13]

Committee assignments

Later career and FEC investigation

In May 2014, Rivera announced he would run for Congress again. [14] He was defeated in the Republican primary, coming in fourth place with 7.5% of the vote.

In March 2016, Rivera announced he would run for the open state house district 118, but lost to Democrat Robert Asencio by 53 votes. [15] In March 2017, Rivera announced he would run for the state house again in 2018, this time in neighboring district 105. [16]

In April 2012, Rivera initiated a scheme to secretly fund candidate Justin Lamar Sternad in the Democratic primary as a way to weaken his eventual 2012 general election opponent, Joe Garcia, when he met with his associate, Miami campaign consultant Ana Sol Alliegro, and directed her to approach Sternad with an offer to provide financial support to his primary campaign. At Rivera’s direction, Alliegro spent the next few months acting as an intermediary, transmitting funds to Sternad, the Sternad political action committee, and vendors providing services to Sternad’s committee. Rivera funneled nearly $76,000 to the Democratic ringer candidate. [17]

The Federal Election Commission (FEC) accused Rivera of illegally making contributions in the name of another person when he made multiple cash payments to third-party vendors providing services to the Sternad campaign from July 14, 2012, to August 8, 2012. Rivera also took steps to hide his identity and directed others not to disclose him as the true source of those cash payments, the FEC complaint stated. Rivera's activity was also the subject of an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office of Southern Florida. Sternad and Alliegro pleaded guilty to criminal charges for their roles in the scheme. [18]

On March 24, 2022, a federal judge ruled against his appeal of the $456,000 judgment against him tied to his federal elections campaign violations. It was one of the 15 largest fines ever handed down by the FEC.

On December 5, 2022, Rivera was arrested and charged with conspiracy to launder money and with failing to register as a foreign agent, the latter a violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). [19] He was allegedly a lobbyist for Venezuela, promoting the normalization of relations between that country and the United States. [20] Rivera was arrested in Atlanta, Georgia, and is currently out on bail. [21]

On December 15, 2023, additional charges were added to the indictment [22] against Rivera for three tax crimes. [23]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Former Congressman Rivera bought properties for $800,000 in Florida while under federal investigation - Univision News, 2 June 2020
  2. ↑ "RIVERA, David". US History, Art & Archives. Retrieved 2019-07-08.
  3. ↑ "RIVERA, David". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2011-04-07.
  4. ↑ "Our Campaigns - FL State House 112-R Primary Race - Sep 10, 2002". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 2018-08-06.
  5. ↑ "RIVERA, David". US History, Art & Archives. Retrieved 2019-07-08.
  6. ↑ "RIVERA, David". US History, Art & Archives. Retrieved 2019-07-08.
  7. ↑ "Full Biography | Congressman David Rivera". Rivera.house.gov. Archived from the original on 2011-04-06. Retrieved 2011-04-07.
  8. ↑ "David Rivera: Biography". davidrivera.org. 2002-11-05. Archived from the original on 2011-07-25. Retrieved 2011-04-07.
  9. ↑ "THE BUZZ: FLORIDA POLITICS. St. Petersburg Times. January 21, 2009. Online. February 25, 2009". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. 2009-01-21. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved 2011-04-07.(subscription required)
  10. ↑ "Our Campaigns - FL District 25 - R Primary Race - Aug 24, 2010". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 2018-08-06.
  11. ↑ "Our Campaigns - FL - District 25 Race - Nov 02, 2010". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 2018-08-06.
  12. ↑ "THE TOP ELECTION 2012 HEADLINES FROM NBC 6 SOUTH FLORIDA AND NBC NEWS". nbcmiami.com. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
  13. ↑ "Our Campaigns - FL District 26 Race - Nov 06, 2012". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 2018-08-06.
  14. ↑ "Under federal investigation, ex-Rep. David Rivera announces he'll run for congress again". Miami Herald . May 3, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
  15. ↑ "David Rivera says he's running for Florida House again | Miami Herald". Miami-Herald.
  16. ↑ "David Rivera files to run for office, again". Miami Herald . March 30, 2017. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
  17. ↑ "Former Florida congressman fined $456K for campaign scheme". Politico . 23 February 2021.
  18. ↑ Alvarado, Francisco (28 March 2022). "Ex-Congressman Rivera loses 'last ditch' move to avoid huge campaign fine". Florida Bulldog.
  19. ↑ "Former Florida congressman arrested in Venezuela probe". Tampa Bay Times. December 5, 2022. Archived from the original on December 8, 2022.
  20. ↑ Timsit, Annabelle; Stein, Perry (December 6, 2022). "Ex-Rep. Rivera charged with conspiracy over Venezuela work". The Washington Post.
  21. ↑ Goodman, Joshua; Spencer, Terry (December 5, 2022). "Ex-Miami US Rep. David Rivera arrested in Venezuela probe". AP News. Archived from the original on December 5, 2022.
  22. ↑ "United States v. Rivera (1:22-cr-20552)". CourtListener . 15 December 2023.
  23. ↑ "Feds charge ex-Miami congressman Rivera anew with breaking income tax laws in Venezuela case". Miami Herald. December 15, 2023. Archived from the original on January 15, 2024.
David Rivera
David Rivera, Official Portrait, 112th Congress.jpg
Member of the U.S.HouseofRepresentatives
from Florida's 25th district
In office
January 3, 2011 –January 3, 2013
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the  U.S. House of Representatives
from Florida's 25th congressional district
2011–2013		Succeeded by
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Former US Representative Order of precedence of the United States
as Former US Representative		Succeeded byas Former US Representative
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