EX-HOUSE SPEAKER LATEST TO FALL IN SCANDAL

RIO DE JANEIRO The oncepowerful speaker of Congress’ lower house is the latest top politician to fall before the mammoth corruption scandals that have caused widespread anger among Brazilians.

In a 450-10 vote late Monday, the Chamber of Deputies stripped the congressional seat from Eduardo Cunha, pictured, who has been accused of corruption and obstruction of justice. Nine legislators abstained.

Although prosecutors allege Cunha received millions of dollars in bribes linked to the mammoth corruption case at state-run oil giant Petrobras, lawmakers considered only the issue of whether he had lied about having secret bank accounts in Switzerland.

Cunha, who said the accounts belonged to a trust, was in his fourth term and was considered one of the most powerful men in Brazil.