Five Cabinet members along with top congressional leaders are among those cited for possible corruption in a critically important report filed by Brazilian prosecutors on Tuesday. News-gathering organizations on Wednesday cited top officials by name, with reporters saying they obtained the information from sources within the prosecutor’s office. On Tuesday, Chief Federal Prosecutor Rodrigo Janot filed a report with the Brazilian Supreme Court, asking the court to authorize further investigation into 83 political figures and 211 others. The names of those cited were kept under seal. Leaks, however, have been common in the ongoing investigation, which is probing alleged bribery, influence-peddling and money laundering by politicians and executives at state-run oil company Petrobras. Among the five Cabinet-level officers named in the press reports are Presidential Chief-of-Staff Eliseu Padilha, top presidential adviser Wellington Moreira-Franco and newly appointed Foreign Minister Aloysio Nunes. Reports said Janot also wishes to investigate Chamber of Deputies Speaker Rodrigo Maia and Senate President Eunício Oliveira. Former presidential candidates Senators Aécio Neves and José Serra are also named, according to the reports. Brazilian President Michel Temer is not named, the reports said. Brazil’s Supreme Court could vote to exempt some, or all, of those named from further investigation. The court can also authorize further investigation, a decision which typically leads to quick indictments. Janot’s report was filed following months of depositions given by Brazilian contractors, who offered details of bribery and bid-fixing schemes to prosecutors. The executives offered their testimony in exchange for limited immunity from prosecution.
Link to UOL news agency article
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