Tucano admits to asking Cachoeira for electoral help.

247 - Quoted in report from Correio Braziliense This Saturday, as a gift in a list of calls exchanged with Carlinhos Cachoeira, the federal deputy and pre-candidate for mayor of Goiânia from the PSDB party, Leonardo Vilela, not only confirmed the contact with the illegal gambling operator, but also stated, in a note, that he sought political help from Cachoeira.

In an official statement, Leonardo says verbatim: "At the time (of the contact), the possibility of Senator Demóstenes Torres running for mayor of Goiânia was being discussed. I needed to speak with him, as his support would be important for any candidacy, should he withdraw. Everyone knows of the senator's friendship with businessman Carlos Ramos. He helped me arrange this meeting with the senator, when I asked for his support for my pre-candidacy."

Leonardo Vilela is the name chosen by Marconi Perillo to run for mayor. He is his candidate. And, as such, he is turning to Carlinhos Cachoeira to secure the senator's support. An isolated act? An order from above?

Another curious detail from the official statement by the politician: he claims to have had two conversations with Cachoeira, but in both he made requests. He asked for help for his daughter and for help with his electoral project. After that, he only offered to kiss his hand.

One last detail: until the end of last month, Leonardo Vilela was the Secretary of the Environment of Goiás. He left to run for mayor, and was replaced by a public prosecutor, Umberto Machado, who coincidentally was chief of staff for Demóstenes Torres when the latter was Attorney General of Goiás – a position, incidentally, also coincidentally held today by Demóstenes' brother, Benedito Torres.

Read the full statement from the congressman and pre-candidate:

I am honored to represent the people of Goiás for the third time as a federal deputy. In these mandates, and also in my time in public administration, I am proud to have always maintained an impeccable stance. I am making this clarification precisely so that there are no doubts about my conduct and out of respect for my electorate.

I have not had, nor have I ever had, any business dealings with the businessman Carlos Ramos. In all my years in public life, I have only had two conversations with this businessman.

The first one happened over a year ago. My daughter is a pharmacist and, due to the Nepotism Law, she had to leave her job at the Juarez Barbosa Drug Distribution Center as soon as I took over as Secretary of the Environment. At the time, she found out about a vacancy at the Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (ICF), a nationally renowned company, and asked me for help in getting a job interview. I was informed that the businessman Carlos Ramos is the ex-husband of the institute's president and that he could help us. As a father, I made the request and she got the job interview.

The other conversation took place in the second half of last year. At the time, we were discussing whether or not Senator Demóstenes Torres would run for mayor of Goiânia. I needed to speak with him because his support would be important for any candidacy, should he withdraw. Everyone knows of the senator's friendship with businessman Carlos Ramos. He helped me arrange this meeting with the senator, when I asked for his support for my pre-candidacy. And that's what happened.

It is important to make it clear that I have never defended illicit business dealings nor participated in any vote that could favor this businessman. I am not being investigated for any wrongdoing by the Federal Police, much less in this Operation Monte Carlo. I am fully available to the public to provide any necessary clarifications.

With a clear conscience, I continue my journey in defense of the development of Goiás and a better quality of life for all the people of Goiás.

Leonardo Vilela, Federal Deputy