PF indicts senators Eduardo Braga and Renan Calheiros for corruption

Ex-governor of Amazonas and former president of the Senate are accused of embezzlement of public funds, money laundering and criminal organization

The Federal Police (PF) indicted senators Eduardo Braga (MDB-AM) and Renan Calheiros (MDB-AL) for corruption crimes on Tuesday (28). The two are accused of embezzling public funds, money laundering and criminal organization.

According to the investigation, Braga and Calheiros would have participated in a scheme to divert resources from the Ministry of Tourism between 2012 and 2014, when they were governor of Amazonas and president of the Senate, respectively.

The resources would have been used to finance electoral campaigns and pay for personal expenses of the accused. The PF also found evidence that the two would have received bribes from construction companies involved in the embezzlement scheme.

The indictment was sent to the Federal Supreme Court (STF), which will now decide whether to accept or reject the complaint. If accepted, the senators will be tried for the crimes they are accused of.

Eduardo Braga and Renan Calheiros have denied the accusations and say they are victims of political persecution.