The FEC is accusing Rivera of making $ 55,000 in campaign contributions in the name of another. Rivera went on to deny any wrongdoing.
The court on Tuesday granted the FEC’s motion for summary judgment, with the order that ‘the record evidence obviously paints a picture showing that Rivera had a plan to illegally fund the Sternad campaign.’
“And Rivera’s opposition order cannot refute or even address much of the evidence,” the order read.
The FEC demanded a civil fine of $ 456,000, which the court granted.
It was not the first time Rivera, representing Florida’s 25th Congressional District from January 2011 to January 2013, had come under legal scrutiny. He was also under federal investigation in 2011 involvement in a secret consultation contract that a casino was closed with a marketing company listed in his mother’s name, but the case got nowhere.
In another case, the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office prepared for Rivera’s indictment in 52 states over theft, money laundering and racketeering as a result of his use of public money and cash that contributed to committees he called for purposes – before the prosecutor’s office was persuaded by Rivera’s lawyers to abandon the attempt.
Rivera lost a court battle in 2016 over his finances as a lawmaker, for which he had to pay a $ 58,000 fine. However, he did not have to pay, as he was no longer a member of the Florida House, which would have to enforce the fine.