Brazil’s Federal Police Accuse President Temer of Corruption

Brazil’s Federal Police has announced it has found indications President Michel Temer and high-ranking members of his party were part of a “criminal organization.”

The finding comes from an investigation into whether members of Temer’s Brazilian Democratic Party Movement, PMDB, had formed a team to divert public resources.

In a report sent to the Supreme Court, the Federal Police found that the group tried “directly or indirectly to obtain improper advantages in areas of the public administration directly or indirectly.”

In order to achieve this goal, the report said Temer “used” Minister of the Secretariat Moreira Franco, Chief Minister Eliseu Padilha and former Minister Geddel Vieira Lima to “raise funds” from private business.

Ex-President of the Lower House Eduardo Cunha and former Minister Henrique Alves were also identified as members of PMDB’s “illicit organization.”

According to the text sent to the Supreme Court, the investigation “showed that President Michel Temer had the power of decision in the actions of the ‘PMDB Chamber,’ as well as to award strategic positions with businesses benefiting from the scheme.”

“And, like in any criminal organization, with the division of labor, President Michel Temer used third parties to take actions under his control and direction,” the text added.

The group is accused of corruption, money laundering and bid rigging.

The Supreme Court will send the text to the public prosecutor's office. If the prosecutor's office accepts the arguments raised by the Federal Police, it will present formal charges against those accused.

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