Trump ally testifies in trial over secret Venezuela lobbying effort

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MIAMI (AP) — A top Washington lobbyist who is closely allied with President Donald Trump testified in federal court that he immediately cut ties with former Congressman David Rivera when he learned in 2020 that Venezuela’s government had awarded the Miami Republican a $50 million contract, shattering his belief that they were both working to hasten Nicolás Maduro ’s downfall. Brian Ballard has been, along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a star witness at Rivera’s trial in Miami on charges h