Embattled Brazilian president and aide accused of corruption

BRAZIL’S Attorney-General Rodrigo Janot accused President Michel Temer and his aide Rodrigo Rocha Loures of corruption on Monday, charging them with receiving bribes from meatpacking giant JBS, according to newspaper O Globo.

Janot sent the request for charges, with additional documents due to follow yesterday, to the country’s Supreme Court, which will then send them to the lower chamber of Congress.

By law, criminal charges against a sitting president have to be approved by twothirds of the lower house and only then can the Supreme Court issue a conviction. If approved by the lower house, Temer could be suspended for 90 days while awaiting impeachment proceedings.

In that case, House Speaker Rodrigo Maia would assume the presidency.

According to a poll by Estadao, Temer might not have the support of lawmakers to block the process.

Meanwhile, Brazil’s federal police recommended charging Temer with obstruction of justice on Monday, according to an official report.

He faces accusations of corruption and spying. Reports said Janot would consider treating each investigation separately, a move that could weaken Temer’s defence.

The embattled politician, who was one of the architects of a similar procedure against former president Dilma Rousseff, has been marred by political scandals revolving around Operation Car Wash, or Lava Jato, investigations.

Last month, a wiretapped conversation with businessman Josley Batista, the chairperson of largest meatpacking company in the country JBS, was released which appeared to reveal Temer endorsing a bribe to potential witnesses in the investigation. – teleSUR