Former US congressman secretly lobbied for Venezuela, prosecutor says at trial - Reuters

A former US congressman is on trial for allegedly conducting secret lobbying work on behalf of Venezuela, according to prosecutors. The case centers on undisclosed foreign agent activities, which would violate federal law requiring registered disclosure of work conducted for foreign governments or entities. Secret lobbying for a hostile foreign power represents a significant breach of public trust and raises questions about whether the defendant violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). The prosecution's case appears to hinge on demonstrating that the defendant failed to register as a foreign agent while conducting political or advocacy work for Caracas. The outcome could determine penalties ranging from civil fines to criminal conviction.