Temer Attacks General Prosecutor and Calls Corruption Charge 'Fiction'

06/28/2017 - 10h00

President Michel Temer on Tuesday (the 27th) launched his most aggressive attack to date against Brazil's General Prosecutor, Rodrigo Janot, whom he accused of "retribution, destruction and revenge" for charging him with corruption.

In a strategic escalation designed to save his remaining term in power, Temer said that Janot availed himself of "deductions" to accuse him without proof and insinuated that the prosecutor had received money from a former aide.

The President hinted that former prosecutor Marcelo Miller, whom he referred to as "a man in [Janot's] strictest confidence", had passed along to Janot part of the fees that he had received when he vacated the office in March to take up a position at the law firm that negotiated the leniency agreement with JBS Corporation.

According to Temer, Miller "made millions in months" which would normally "take decades to accumulate in savings".

In his speech, the PMDB leader went on to try to disqualify the accusation presented by Janot on Monday (the 26th) at the Federal Supreme Court, which charged Temer with being the recipient of the briefcase containing R$500,000 (US$ 152,000) delivered by JBS to his former aide Rodrigo Rocha Loures.

Temer called for "concrete proof". He said that Janot did a "shoddy job", utilized "illicit evidence", created a "work of fiction", and had as an objective "bringing the country to a halt".

In an attempt to show political strength, the President invited congressmen to the speech. The two front rows were reserved for legislators from his governing base.

Translated by LLOYD HARDER

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	Eduardo Anizelli/Folhapress
	Brazil's President Michel Temer speaks during a press statement at the Planalto Palace, in Brasilia