Trump ally testifies in trial over secret Venezuela lobbying effort

A Trump ally is testifying in the criminal trial of a former congressman accused of conducting secret lobbying on behalf of Venezuela while failing to register as a foreign agent. The trial is revealing details about backchannels and covert efforts tied to the political upheaval in Venezuela that eventually led to Nicolás Maduro's departure from power. The case highlights how private operatives sometimes work outside official diplomatic channels on behalf of foreign interests, and underscores potential legal exposure for those who do so without proper disclosure to U.S. authorities. The testimony appears to document a period when Venezuela's political situation was in flux and various actors were maneuvering behind the scenes. The trial outcome may clarify what role unofficial intermediaries played in the broader sequence of events that destabilized Maduro's regime.