Marco Rubio testifies in former housemate's Maduro lobbying trial - BBC

Secretary of State Marco Rubio testified in the trial of a former housemate accused of illegally lobbying on behalf of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro's government. Rubio and the defendant shared living quarters at some point, establishing a personal connection that prosecutors or defense attorneys likely used to establish credibility or context during testimony. The case centers on whether the defendant violated federal law by conducting lobbying activities for a foreign government without proper registration—a crime that can carry significant prison time. Rubio's testimony as a witness in a lobbying prosecution underscores the Trump administration's hardline stance toward Venezuela and Maduro, whom the U.S. does not recognize as Venezuela's legitimate leader. The trial illustrates how foreign influence operations can involve individuals with deep ties to American political figures.