Brazil's Attorney General's Office files charges against members of the PP party for alleged obstruction of justice.
Investigators suspect that Senator Ciro Nogueira (PP-PI) and Congressman Eduardo da Fonte (PP-PE) attempted to buy the silence of a former aide to the senator who has been cooperating with the Justice system; former Congressman Márcio Junqueira (formerly of the PP and currently with Pros) was caught handing over R$ 6 to Ciro's former aide.
247 - The Attorney General's Office (PGR) has filed charges with the Supreme Federal Court (STF) against Senator Ciro Nogueira (PP-PI), Federal Deputy Eduardo da Fonte (PP-PE), and former Deputy Márcio Junqueira (formerly affiliated with the PP, currently with Pros) for alleged obstruction of justice.
Following authorization from Supreme Court Justice Edson Fachin, the Federal Police executed search warrants in the offices and official apartments of Ciro Nogueira and Eduardo da Fonte in Brasília in April. Investigators suspect Ciro and Eduardo da Fonte attempted to buy the silence of a former aide to the senator who has been cooperating with the Justice system.
Márcio Junqueira was arrested in the federal capital after being caught in a so-called "controlled operation" by the police handing over R$ 6 to Ciro Nogueira's former advisor.
According to the Attorney General's Office, the money was intended to buy the witness's silence. Márcio Junqueira's defense claims it was personal financial assistance.
When the Federal Police operation was launched, the lawyers for Ciro and Eduardo da Fonte stated that the congressmen were at the disposal of the Justice system.
In a statement, lawyer Antônio Carlos de Almeida Castro, known as Kakay, who defends Ciro, said he wanted to "state that he followed the investigation and that there is not, even in passing, any indication that justifies this very serious accusation."
"The Senator's phone was tapped, and the Federal Police themselves, in their analysis report, noted that no conversation was found that could be considered suspicious. In the search and seizure carried out both at the Senator's residence and in his office at the Federal Senate, absolutely nothing was found that warranted any concern," the text says, according to a report by G1.
"The investigation, before producing any evidence to support an accusation of obstruction of justice, demonstrated that the Senator did not participate in any attempt to hinder the investigation," it continues.
According to the statement, "this new accusation is entirely strange, coming just one day before the Supreme Court is to rule on whether to accept charges in another investigation against the Senator, where the defense is firmly convinced that the accusation will not be accepted, as the Senator's innocence has been amply proven during the investigation." "While reiterating its full confidence in the Supreme Court, the defense must note that this punitive moment must be faced with full respect for the constitutional principles of presumption of innocence, the right to a full defense, and due process of law."