Shouts interrupt Brazil president’s trial
RIO DE JANEIRO — A trial against Brazil’s president turned into a yelling match and was temporarily suspended Friday after the head of the Senate declared “stupidity is endless” and criticized a colleague who had questioned the body’s moral authority.
The second day of the trial against President Dilma Rousseff got off to an edgy start when Senate President Renan Calheiros decided to bring up a comment made Thursday by Sen. Gleisi Hoffmann, a member of Rousseff’s Workers’ Party.
Hoffmann, who like many in the Senate and lower Chamber of Deputies is being investigated for corruption, declared that “no one here” had the moral standing to judge Rousseff.
In a heated exchange with Hoffmann and other senators, Calheiros said he had asked the Supreme Federal Tribunal, the country’s highest court, not to raid Hoffmann’s home, apparently trying to make the point that federal lawmakers should not be persecuted arbitrarily.
Only the high court can decide to investigate, arrest or prosecute federal lawmakers.
Police are investigating if Hoffmann and her husband received kickbacks from state oil company Petrobras in the form of campaign contributions. They deny wrongdoing.
Calheiro’s comments provoked gasps of surprise in the Senate, and are likely to raise questions about his relationship with justices, who are supposed to be independent.
After the exchange, Calheiros’ office released a statement reiterating the immunity of senators and saying petitions to the court were routine in nature.
Rousseff is accused of breaking fiscal rules in her management of the federal budget. She denies wrongdoing.