Vaccari: all donations to the PT were within the law.
“During my time as treasurer, whenever I visited companies or individuals who made donations, they were made voluntarily, without any other commitment. This has been our way of raising funds for the PT. We account for these funds to the TSE (Superior Electoral Court) and have never had problems with the IRS,” said the PT treasurer, João Vaccari Neto, testifying before the Petrobras CPI (Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry); regarding the money launderer Alberto Yousseff, the PT treasurer said that he met him casually many years ago and also did not have any kind of financial negotiation with him.
In testimony today (9), at the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPI) of Petrobras, the treasurer of the PT, João Vaccari Neto, denied that he had mediated illegal donations in contracts with Petrobras suppliers to finance PT campaigns. Vaccari reaffirmed that all donations that the party receives are legal, made through bank transactions and with accountability to the Superior Electoral Court (TSE).
"During my time in the treasury, whenever I visited companies or individuals who made donations, they were always voluntary, without any other commitment. This has been our way of raising funds for the PT. We account for these funds to the TSE (Superior Electoral Court) and have never had problems with the tax authorities," he told parliamentarians.
Before the deputies began asking questions, Vaccari presented data that would show that in the last two elections, the distribution of donations from companies investigated by Operation Lava Jato was balanced between the PT, PMDB, and PSDB parties.
Vaccari denied discussing donations of funds with Petrobras executives and with the money launderer Alberto Yousseff. The treasurer said he did not speak with the former director of Services at Petrobras, Renato Duque, about PT finances or any other matter involving financial resources. In response to parliamentarians, he repeated that the statements Barusco made about him in his plea bargain are not true.
He reported that he also did not discuss any financial matters with the former executive manager of Petrobras' Services Directorate, Pedro Barusco. "My relationship with him was always casual and without any intimacy."
Regarding the money launderer Alberto Yousseff, the PT treasurer said that he met him casually many years ago and also did not have any kind of financial dealings with him.
Vaccari is suspected of passive corruption and money laundering, according to informants in the Lava Jato Operation of the Federal Police. They claim that the treasurer acted as an intermediary for bribe donations in contracts with Petrobras suppliers. The money was allegedly used to finance political campaigns.
According to the complaint filed with the Federal Court by the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office in Paraná, Vaccari participated in meetings with the former Director of Services at Petrobras, Renato Duque, in which the amounts of bribes to be transferred to the PT (Workers' Party) as legal donations were agreed upon.
In testimony before the Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry in early March, the former executive manager of Petrobras' Services Directorate, Pedro Barusco, said that he also met with the PT treasurer to discuss the payment of bribes to the party.
Yesterday (9), the Supreme Federal Court accepted Vaccari's defense request that he not be heard in the Petrobras CPI as a witness. If he were to testify as a witness, he would have to sign a statement committing to tell the truth. With the STF's decision, it was also ensured that the treasurer has the right to be accompanied by a lawyer and the right not to incriminate himself.