Brazil president taped discussing pay-off for witness in graft probe: O Globo
Source: Reuters
WORLD NEWS | Thu May 18, 2017 | 12:55am EDT
Brazil president taped discussing pay-off for witness in graft probe: O Globo
By Lisandra Paraguassu and Ricardo Brito | BRASILIA
Brazilian President Michel Temer gave his blessing to an attempt to pay a potential witness to remain silent in the country's biggest-ever graft probe, according to plea bargain testimony by a powerful businessman, newspaper O Globo reported on Wednesday.
Temer's office on Wednesday acknowledged he had met in March with the businessman, Chairman Joesley Batista of meat giant JBS SA (JBSS3.SA), but denied any part in alleged efforts to keep jailed former House Speaker Eduardo Cunha from testifying.
O Globo's report, which three sources familiar with the matter said was accurate, threatened to pull Temer into a corruption scandal that has already entangled several of his closest allies and advisors.
Leading lawmakers and a third of Temer's cabinet have already been caught up in an investigation of systematic bribery in return for political favors and contracts with state-run enterprises. But news that the president himself may have been party to a cover-up shook the scandal-weary nation.
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http://www.reuters.com/article/us-brazil-corruption-idUSKCN18D2XY