Minister says he is calm about Supreme Court investigation.
"I was the one who requested the investigation. For me, there is no fact that alters my status of innocence," said Orlando Silva.
Evam Sena_247, in Brasília – The Minister of Sports, Orlando Silva, stated today in a press conference that the investigation opened by the Supreme Federal Court (STF) to investigate allegations of misappropriation of public funds in the ministry does not "alter" his "status of innocence" and that he remains "calm" in his position, "with the serenity of the righteous."
While the minister was participating in a hearing at the Special Committee on the General Law of the World Cup, in the Chamber of Deputies, this afternoon, Supreme Court Justice Carmen Lúcia decided to accept the opinion of the Attorney General of the Republic, Roberto Gurgel, and open an investigation to look into allegations that Orlando Silva coordinates a scheme to collect bribes from NGOs contracted by the ministry to fund the PCdoB party.
Orlando Silva stated today that he was the one who requested an investigation by the Federal Police and the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office. "I was the one who requested the investigation. For me, there is nothing that alters my status of innocence. I trust in Brazilian institutions and Brazilian laws. I will calmly continue my work," he said.
"I am very calm, I have the serenity of the righteous, of those who are on the side of truth," he added, stating that the results of the Supreme Court's investigation will be used in a criminal complaint he will file against his accusers. The main accuser is João Dias Ferreira, a military police officer from the Federal District and president of two NGOs contracted by the Ministry of Sports whose financial statements were rejected.
Orlando Silva again denied the accusation that he received bribe money in the ministry's garage. "For 11 days I've been asking, where is the proof? There will be no proof, because it's slander," he stated, alleging that João Dias backtracked when he told the Federal Police that there are no recordings in which the minister appears.
During a hearing in the Chamber of Deputies, opposition members asked Orlando Silva to resign from his ministerial post, causing a heated exchange between government supporters and opponents. The minister did not answer questions about the corruption allegations and limited himself to discussing the General Law of the World Cup. “There were quite a few provocations, some even bordering on hysteria. It was out of respect for the committee that I decided not to comment on the attacks I suffered. Brazil must continue moving forward, regardless of whether a real or unreal crisis appears,” he declared to the press.
Orlando Silva denied that he will meet with President Dilma Rousseff today, as had been stated during the hearing. The president of the PCdoB, Renato Rabelo, met with the Minister of the General Secretariat of the Presidency, Gilberto Carvalho, this afternoon, which raised suspicions that Orlando Silva would leave his post today.