Supreme Court orders probe into ministers, governors, lawmakers

André Richter and Felipe Pontes reports from Agência Brasil 

Supreme Court Justice Edson Fachin (picture) has ordered probes into nine members of the government cabinet, nine state governors, 29 senators, and 42 federal deputies. Their names were linked to the “Car Wash” corruption scandal in the plea bargain statements heard from former executives of Odebrecht construction company, one of the contractors involved in the scandal. One sitting member of the Federal Court of Audits (TCU), Vital do Rêgo Filho, will also be investigated.

The cases will be sent for the Prosecutor-General’s Office (PGR) and the Federal Police to begin the investigation. In addition to the suspects’ statements, the court may authorize wiretaps and order tax disclosures.

The following members of cabinet and state governors will be investigated:

Cabinet

1 – Moreira Franco, chief administrative aide to the presidency
2 – Roberto Freire, Minister of Culture
3 – Bruno Araújo, Minister of Cities
4 – Aloysio Nunes, Minister  of Foreign Affairs
5 – Marcos Antônio Pereira, Minister of Industry, Foreign Trade, and Services
6 – Blairo Maggi, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply
7 – Helder Barbalho, Minister of National Integration
8 – Eliseu Padilha, Chief of Staff
9 – Gilberto Kassab, Minister of Science and Technology

Governors

1 – Paulo Hartung (Espírito Santo)
2 – Geraldo Alckmin (São Paulo)
3 – Fernando Pimentel (Minas Gerais)
4-  Flávio Dino (Maranhão)
5 – Luiz Fernando Pezão (Rio de Janeiro)
6 – Raimundo Colombo (Santa Catarina)
7 – Marcelo Miranda (Tocantins)
8 – Beto Richa (Paraná)
9 – Marconi Perillo (Goiás)