CPI rapporteur sees 'weak evidence' against Pezão, Cunha, and Anastasia.

247 - The rapporteur of the Petrobras CPI in the Chamber of Deputies, Congressman Luiz Sérgio (PT-RJ), stated in an interview with G1 that he is against summoning the Attorney General of the Republic, Rodrigo Janot, to speak to the commission and ruled out breaking the bank and telephone secrecy of the head of the Public Prosecutor's Office and politicians investigated for suspected participation in the corruption scheme at the state-owned company.

According to the rapporteur of the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPI), summons and breaches of confidentiality could provoke a "political struggle" between Congress and the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office. "My position is against it. We cannot transform the case into a political fight against the Public Prosecutor's Office. It would lead to a level of radicalization between the Legislative branch and the Public Prosecutor's Office," he said.

Despite wanting to avoid direct confrontation with the Attorney General, Luiz Sérgio criticizes the inclusion of the names of several politicians on the list of those under investigation. According to him, the existing evidence against these authorities is "weak," especially that which supports the requests for investigation of the governor of Rio de Janeiro, Luiz Fernando Pezão (PMDB), and the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Eduardo Cunha (PMDB).

"What is evident is that some requests for investigation, such as that of Eduardo Cunha, for example, show enormous weakness. The petition regarding Pezão, then, is the one I found most fragile of all," he stated.

The Workers' Party member stated that he also does not see strong evidence against Senator Antônio Anastasia (PSDB-MG), former governor of Minas Gerais. "Saying that he delivered money to Anastasia isn't enough, it has to be proven. He's from the PSDB, but there's no way to deny that he's not a weak candidate."

The rapporteur of the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry also rules out opening the bank and telephone records of any politician investigated in Operation Lava Jato. According to him, it is necessary to wait for the Public Prosecutor's Office to decide whether or not to file charges against the authorities with the Supreme Court. For now, the suspicions against the 48 politicians are being investigated. If the Attorney General finds evidence of crimes, he will submit a request for the Supreme Court to open criminal proceedings.

"Since there is an ongoing investigation, the Supreme Court itself, if it deems it necessary, will lift [the confidentiality restrictions]. I think Parliament should await the investigation conducted by the Supreme Court, especially since it is carried out independently and without the corporate struggles of any institution, without partisan passions."

Luiz Sérgio said he believes there is no "systemic" corruption at Petrobras and stated that whistleblowers in the scheme do not reveal the participation of former presidents of the state-owned company or of employees who were part of the bidding committees.

“Pedro Barusco himself said that corruption is institutionalized. But he said that Graça Foster knew nothing about it. The bidding committee was acting correctly. So, where was the widespread problem?” questioned the rapporteur of the CPI (Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry).