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Former Rep. David Rivera sentenced to 10 years for secret Venezuela lobbying

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Coverage spectrum

Covered by 13 outlets across the spectrum.

13 articles in total. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias

A federal jury in May convicted former Florida Republican congressman David Rivera on all counts in connection with an undisclosed roughly $50 million lobbying campaign conducted on behalf of Venezuela's government during the first Trump administration. U.S. District Judge Melissa Damian sentenced Rivera, 61, to 10 years in federal prison on Oct. 2 for conspiracy to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and related charges. Prosecutors said the money came through Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA and was tied to the Maduro government. Rivera, who served one term in Congress from 2011 to 2013 and is a longtime friend of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has been jailed without bond since his conviction. Rivera has maintained he advocated for Maduro's removal.

Headline and summary written by Mantle’s AI from the coverage below, under published rules. How this works

What happened

Key points

Each point shows who reports it, from Far Left to Far Right.

  1. Rivera was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison on Oct. 2 for his role in a secret lobbying campaign on behalf of Venezuela's government.

    Reported byLeftCenterRight

  2. The lobbying deal was reportedly worth about $50 million and was connected to Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA.

    Reported byLeftCenterRight

  3. A jury convicted Rivera on all counts in May, including failing to register as a foreign agent and conspiracy to commit money laundering, after a seven-week trial.

    Reported byLeftCenterRight

  4. Rivera has been held in federal custody without bond since the May conviction.

    Reported byLeftCenterRight

  5. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a longtime friend and former housemate of Rivera, testified that he had no knowledge of the lobbying activity.

    Reported byLeftCenterRight

Show 2 more pointsShow fewer points

  1. Co-defendant Esther Nuhfer was also convicted in the case and was sentenced in August to five years in prison.

    Reported byCenterRight

  2. The defense argued the lobbying contract was with a U.S. subsidiary of PDVSA rather than the Venezuelan government directly, while prosecutors said the funds were tied to the Maduro regime.

    Reported byCenter

What is contested

Where accounts differ

Points the coverage does not agree on, and who says what.

  • Whether the lobbying work was conducted on behalf of the Venezuelan government or a U.S.-based subsidiary of its state oil company.

    Prosecutors said the funds and work were tied to the Maduro government and its interests; defense lawyers argued the contract was with a U.S. subsidiary of PDVSA, not the Venezuelan government itself, according to BBC News.

  • Whether Rivera's actions amounted to supporting or opposing the Maduro government.

    Prosecutors and officials characterized the lobbying as advancing the interests of the Maduro regime; Rivera maintained, per The Washington Post, that despite the $50 million contract he actually advocated for Maduro's removal.

How each side tells it

Compare views

  • the left

    4 outlets

    Left-side outlets use plain, factual headlines naming Rivera, the 10-year sentence and the Venezuela lobbying link, with one outlet additionally noting his tie to Rubio.

    Ex-congressman and Rubio ally gets 10 years for secret Venezuela lobbying
    The Washington PostLeftAll left-leaning headlines

  • the center

    3 outlets

    Center outlets report the sentencing straightforwardly, with the BBC's own headline emphasizing the $50 million scheme while the wire report used by other outlets focuses on the betrayal of Venezuela's secret lobbying.

    Ex-GOP lawmaker sentenced to 10 years in prison
    The HillCenterAll center headlines

  • the right

    6 outlets

    Most right-leaning outlets use neutral, factual headlines, but one outlet frames the story with sensational and dismissive language about communism.

    Ex-Congressman David Rivera Sentenced to 10 Years for Secret Venezuela Lobbying
    TownhallFar RightAll right-leaning headlines

The words they chose

Language to notice

Words that carry a judgement beyond the facts. Tap a highlighted word anywhere on the page to see why.

  • Left0

    No loaded words in its own voice.

  • Center0

    No loaded words in its own voice.

  • Right2

    SlammerCommies

In the outlets’ own words

  • Sensational language

    SlammerMore neutral: prison

    Uses a slang term for prison to add dramatic flair rather than a neutral description of incarceration.

    Ex-Congressman Headed To The Slammer For Working With Commies

    Used byThe Daily Wire (Far Right)

  • Dehumanizing label

    CommiesMore neutral: the Venezuelan government

    Derogatory slang for communists reduces the Venezuelan government to a contemptuous label rather than a neutral political descriptor.

    Ex-Congressman Headed To The Slammer For Working With Commies

    Used byThe Daily Wire (Far Right)

See the full language guide

See for yourself

Side by side

What each side leads with and what it leaves out. Open a side to read its headlines.

From the left

4 outlets

Leads with

  • the sentence and conviction details
  • Rivera's friendship with Rubio
  • the scale of the lobbying scheme

Leaves out

  • Co-defendant Esther Nuhfer's conviction and sentence
  • the dispute over whether the lobbying was for the government or a subsidiary

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 4 headlines from the leftHide the headlines

From the center

3 outlets

Leads with

  • judicial proceedings and judge's remarks
  • Rubio's testimony
  • details of the lobbying contract and co-defendant's case
See the 3 headlines from the centerHide the headlines
  • The HillCenter

    Ex-GOP lawmaker sentenced to 10 years in prison

    Former Florida Rep. David Rivera (R) was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison Friday for his undisclosed role in a multimillion-dollar lobbying campaign on behalf of the Venezuelan government under the first Trump administration. …

    Read at The Hill (opens in a new tab)
  • BBC NewsCenter

    Ex-US congressman sentenced to 10 years in prison for $50m lobbying scheme

    River's ex-housemate, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, testified he had no idea about his activities.

    Read at BBC News (opens in a new tab)
  • PBS NewsHourCenterAssociated Press report

    Former GOP Rep. David Rivera sentenced to 10 years for secret Venezuela lobbying

    David Rivera has been jailed since jurors found him guilty in May on all counts, including failing to register as a foreign agent and conspiracy to commit money laundering as part of his work for former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's government.

    Read at PBS NewsHour (opens in a new tab)

    Also published by ABC News, New York Post and The Washington Times. It counts once.

From the right

6 outlets

Leads with

  • Rivera's Republican background and representation of an anti-communist Miami community
  • the betrayal framing from prosecutors
  • details of the lobbying scheme and forfeiture

Leaves out

  • Rubio's personal friendship with Rivera (in some outlets)

Reported by other sides, not found in this side’s coverage.

See the 6 headlines from the rightHide the headlines
  • TownhallFar Right

    Ex-Congressman David Rivera Sentenced to 10 Years for Secret Venezuela Lobbying

    Former U.S. Congressman David Rivera was sentenced on Friday to 10 years in federal prison for secretly acting as an unregistered agent of the Venezuelan government and laundering millions of dollars connected to that work.

    Read at Townhall (opens in a new tab)
  • The Epoch TimesFar Right

    Former Rep. David Rivera Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Lobbying for Venezuela

    The case underscored Miami’s long-standing role as a center of influence in U.S.–Latin America relations.

    Read at The Epoch Times (opens in a new tab)
  • The Daily WireFar Right

    Ex-Congressman Headed To The Sensational language“Slammer”Uses a slang term for prison to add dramatic flair rather than a neutral description of incarceration.More neutral: prisonDisagree with this highlight? For Working With Dehumanizing label“Commies”Derogatory slang for communists reduces the Venezuelan government to a contemptuous label rather than a neutral political descriptor.More neutral: the Venezuelan governmentDisagree with this highlight?

    Former Rep. David Rivera (R-FL) was sentenced Friday to 10 years in federal prison for secretly lobbying on behalf of the Venezuelan government and laundering millions of dollars tied to the work. U.S. …

    Read at The Daily Wire (opens in a new tab)
  • Just the NewsFar Right

    Former GOP Rep. Rivera sentenced to 10 years for undisclosed Venezuela lobbying

    Rivera served from 2011 to 2013 and represented much of the north Miami area. He previously served in the state House of Representatives.

    Read at Just the News (opens in a new tab)
  • The Washington TimesRightAssociated Press report

    Former GOP Rep. David Rivera sentenced to 10 years for secret Venezuela lobbying

    The Washington Times published a report that is shown in full at PBS NewsHour.

    Read at The Washington Times (opens in a new tab)
  • New York PostRightAssociated Press report

    Former GOP Rep. David Rivera sentenced to 10 years in prison for secret Venezuela lobbying

    New York Post published a report that is shown in full at PBS NewsHour. The headline is the one New York Post gave it.

    Read at New York Post (opens in a new tab)

Articles you open from here build My Mix, a private picture of how your reading spreads across the spectrum, kept on this device. What is My Mix?

The left is Far Left and Left together. The right is Right and Far Right together. Every outlet keeps its own five-point rating.

Who reported it when

How the coverage built up

  • Left

    19 min later

    Its first report, Oct 2, 2:37 PM EDT

  • Center

    37 min later

    Its first report, Oct 2, 2:55 PM EDT

  • Right

    First to report

    The Daily Wire, Oct 2, 2:19 PM EDT

See the order the outlets reported inHide the order
  1. The Daily WireFar RightOct 2, 2:19 PM EDT
  2. The New York TimesLeftOct 2, 2:37 PM EDT
  3. PBS NewsHourCenterOct 2, 2:55 PM EDT
  4. CBS NewsLeftOct 2, 2:56 PM EDT
  5. ABC NewsLeftOct 2, 3:25 PM EDT
  6. The Washington PostLeftOct 2, 3:38 PM EDT
  7. BBC NewsCenterOct 2, 5:05 PM EDT
  8. The Epoch TimesFar RightOct 2, 5:07 PM EDT
  9. The HillCenterOct 2, 5:25 PM EDT
  10. New York PostRightOct 3, 1:51 AM EDT
  11. The Washington TimesRightOct 3, 9:17 AM EDT
  12. TownhallFar RightOct 3, 6:00 PM EDT

Times are the ones the outlets published in their own feeds, in Eastern time. Opinion is left out. Just the News gave only a date, so it is not placed.

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