Federal Police carry out searches in Congress

Federal Police officers are carrying out searches at the offices of Senator Aécio Neves (PSDB), Senator Zezé Perrela (PMDB) and Federal Deputy Rodrigo Rocha Loures (PMDB), all of whom are in the governing coalition.

Yesterday evening, O Globo newspaper reported the owner of the JBS meatpacking giant, Joesley Batista, was taped saying Senator Neves, who is the president of PSDB party, asked him $640,000, to be delivered to Neves's cousin. The report also said the delivery was recorded on video by the Federal Police, who tracked the money and found it was eventually deposited to a business owned by Senator Zezé Perrella.

Senator Neves's press office released a statement yesterday saying the senator had “a tranquil mind regarding the integrity of all his actions. His relationship with Mr. Joesley Batista was strictly personal and had nothing to do with public affairs. The senator is waiting until he can access the full information so he can provide all clarifications needed.”

Also yesterday night, Deputy Loures's press office said he was in New York and was due to return today (May 18). According to O Globo's report, he was designated by President Michel Temer as an intermediary to sort out a JBS affair with the government and subsequently recorded on video receiving the equivalent of $160,900 in current .

Federal police and prosecutors also searched Senator Aécio Neves's and his sister Andréa Neves's apartments in Rio today (18).

Translated by Mayra Borges

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