Attorney General Considers Request to Oust House Speaker Cunha

10/23/2015 - 10h33

After the Supreme Court (STF) authorized a seizure of R$ 9.6 million (US$ 2.4 million) deposited in Swiss accounts linked to Eduardo Cunha (PMDB-RJ), the Attorney General's Office intensified the search for evidence to direct a request to remove him from his position as president of the lower house of Congress.

Advisors to the Attorney General's Office of Rodrigo Janot have gathered evidence which shows that Cunha used his position to meddle with the investigation of Operation Car Wash. If this is confirmed, the Attorney General is expected to formalize the request.

Since it is considered an extremely delicate measure and one which could face great resistance among STF ministers, the removal will only be formalized if there is no reasonable doubt that the congressman used his presidential privileges to hinder the unfolding of the investigations.

Janot went to minister Teori Zavascki, Operation Car Wash reporter in the STF, to request the seizure of money, because there is evidence that the accounts were credited with money obtained from Petrobras contract bribes.

In April of this year, the Swiss authorities blocked 2.4 million Swiss francs (R$ 9.6 million). The money was divided among two accounts, one managed by Cunha (US$ 2.3 million) and another managed by his wife, journalist Claudia Cruz.

The Attorney General of Switzerland identified four accounts linked to the congressman, with a copy of his diplomatic passport, the address to his Rio de Janeiro home, plus his signature.

Cunha did not want to address the coming removal from office. He has denied any intention to step down from office. Cunha's lawyer could not be reached.

Translated by SUGHEY RAMIREZ

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	Diego Padgurschi/Folhapress
	Eduardo Cunha, president of the lower house of Congress