Congressman Is Caught Watching Pornography and Blames Friends

05/29/2015 - 09h54

The Chamber of Deputies voted on Wednesday, May 27th, on two crucial points for political reform, but congressman João Rodrigues (PSD) ended up unable to concentrate one hundred percent of his efforts on the extremely long debates about private financing and re-election.

According to the images captured and transmitted by the SBT TV channel, the politician set aside a part of the parliamentary session to, alongside some colleagues, watch pornographic photos and videos on his cellphone.

On Thursday, May 28th, already in the midst of the controversy that followed the release of the images, he blamed a group of friends on an instant messaging app.

"In these WhatsApp groups [instant messaging app] that I have, that everyone has, there are many friends who send plenty of dirty messages," he said on the telephone.

At 48 years old, he is married and has two daughters. "He's a friend on WhatsApp, who often does this. In fact, when it comes to improper things, I open to see what it is and delete it immediately," he added.

Member of the so-called lower clergy of the Chamber of Deputies, which is a majority group of little national political expression, Rodrigues is a former radio broadcaster, is in his second term as congressman and was mayor of Chapecó and Pinhalzinho, both in Santa Catarina state.

Asked about the matter, the mayor, Eduardo Cunha (PMDB), who is evangelical, declined to comment. He said that if there is an outcry for breach of decorum against the congressman, it will be analyzed. "It was an atypical behavior ... but I'm in no position to assess this matter at this time."

Translated by CRISTIANE COSTA LIMA

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	Reprodução/SBT Brasília
	Congressman João Rodrigues (PSD) was caught watching pornography on his cellphone