Newly filed lobbying records show Venezuela’s socialist government previously hired a longtime Democratic Party donor for $6 million at the same time it was lobbying to discourage the U.S. from imposing sanctions on the oil-rich nation.The documents, which were disclosed Thursday, show a U.S. subsidiary of Venezuela’s state oil giant PDVSA agreed to hire Marcia Wiss’ Washington law firm in March 2017. That’s the same month it signed a consulting deal for $50 million with scandal-tainted former Congressman David Rivera. Full Text -> FoxNews

Specifically, Scott wants Treasury to determine whether the firm’s representation violates existing sanctions on the Maduro regime. Scott is also asking the DOJ to determine whether the firm is violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA.) That law requires individuals or firms doing work on behalf of a foreign principal to register with the U.S. government. ByRyan Nicol. Full text -> FLAPOL

The Venezuelan government of President Nicolás Maduro has hired Amsterdam and Partners LLP, a U.S. law firm that also represents Turkey, in a fresh effort to battle harsh sanctions by Washington, the Associated Press reported on Friday. Full text -> AHVAL