Marco Rubio’s Bestie Is an Accused “Foreign Agent”—With Rubio on the Witness List

Plus: Timothée Chalamet Has a Point

View in browser | Update preferences SUBSCRIBE FOR FULL ACCESS David Rivera and Marco Rubio came up in '90s Florida politics as a team. Rubio was the golden child, Rivera the "feared" and "consummate behind-the-scenes strategist," as one Rubio biographer put it. The two were close enough that they bought a house together in Tallahassee. But Rubio's roommate became a headache when they both ran for higher office and Rivera became a scandal magnet. Now he's been indicted for acting as an unregistered foreign agent for Caracas after signing a $50 million contract with the US subsidiary of Venezuela's state oil company. Susie Wiles—the lobbyist turned White House chief of staff—also pops up in the caper, and so does former Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway. And there's one particularly big name on the trial's witness list: Rivera's old friend Marco Rubio. JACK HOLMES, SENIOR EDITOR Why this ad? Secret Agent BY NOAH SHACHTMAN David Rivera and Rubio bought a house in Tallahassee when they were coming up together in Florida politics. But he's been a headache for the secretary of state ever since, and now he could be one for the Trump White House too. READ MORE Get more as a Vanity Fair subscriber Exclusive offer: Subscribe to get one month of Vanity Fair free START YOUR FREE TRIAL More Great Reads CULTURE Timothée Chalamet Is Right About Ballet and Opera BY CHRIS MURPHY Quite frankly, everyone needs to get a grip. READ MORE CULTURE The Big Business—and Muddy History—of the Boutique Mah-Jongg Boom BY KASE WICKMAN A century-plus-old game has gotten a modern makeover and new burst of popularity, but is the future of American mah-jongg coming at the expense of its past? READ MORE From the Archive Anatomy of an Acceptance Speech BY MICHAEL THOMSEN With hundreds of nominations to her name, Meryl Streep has had plenty of time to perfect her public speaking skills. From the April 2017 issue, a look back at some memorable highlights from her four decades of awards-ceremony appearances. READ MORE Why this ad? In Case You Missed It Chelsea Clinton, Ava DuVernay, and Jodie Foster Champion One Another at Inaugural Making Their Mark Forum At the first weekend-long gathering of its kind, over 350 curators, artists, and art world power players gathered to discuss markets, cuts, and fighting conservatism. The Royal Family Reunites for Commonwealth Day Amid Controversy and Protests On the political front, attention remains high on the proposal by some to remove Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor entirely from the line of succession. MORE FROM VANITY FAIR POLITICS BUSINESS HOLLYWOOD STYLE ROYALS CELEBRITY This e-mail was sent to you by VANITY FAIR. To ensure delivery to your inbox (not bulk or junk folders), please add our e-mail address, vanityfair@newsletter.vf.com, to your address book. View our Privacy Policy Unsubscribe Copyright © Condé Nast 2026. One World Trade Center, New York, NY 10007. All rights reserved.