Lula says Delcídio is a confessed defendant but lacks credibility.
In response to the decision by the Federal Court in Brasília, which accepted charges against former President Lula for alleged obstruction of justice, Lula's lawyers stated that he "never interfered or attempted to interfere in testimonies related to Lava Jato"; "The accusation is based exclusively on the plea bargain testimony of a confessed and unreliable defendant – who made a deal with the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office to be transferred to house arrest," said Roberto Teixeira and Cristiano Zanin Martins, regarding the testimony of former Senator Delcídio do Amaral; "Lula does not oppose any investigation, provided it is conducted with due process and fundamental guarantees," they added.
Brasilia 247 - The defense team for former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated this Friday, the 29th, that he has not yet been notified of the decision by the Federal Court of Brasília, which accepted the charges filed against him by the Attorney General's Office for attempted obstruction of justice, within the scope of Operation Lava Jato.
"Lula has already clarified to the Attorney General of the Republic, in his testimony, that he never interfered or attempted to interfere in testimonies related to Lava Jato. The accusation is based exclusively on the plea bargain testimony of a confessed and unreliable defendant - who made an agreement with the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office to be transferred to house arrest," said lawyers Roberto Teixeira and Cristiano Zanin Martins in a statement.
"Lula does not oppose any investigation, provided it is carried out with due regard for legal process and fundamental guarantees," they added.
According to the Attorney General's Office, which filed the lawsuit earlier this year with the Supreme Federal Court, Lula and Delcídio tried to prevent the plea bargain agreement of former Petrobras director Nestor Cerveró.
Five other defendants were indicted for attempting to obstruct the Lava Jato investigation: businessman José Carlos Bumlai, his son Maurício Bumlai, banker André Esteves of BTG Pactual, Diogo Ferreira Rodriguez, former advisor to Delcídio, and Edson Siqueira Ribeiro Filho, who acted in Cerveró's defense.