Brazil: Lower House Committee Rejects Charges Against President Temer

The Constitutional Justice Committee of Brazil's Lower House has rejected by 40 votes to 25, with one abstention, that the attorney general's request for corruption charges to be brought against President Michel Temer. 

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The request still has to go to a vote in the full House. The full House must vote in favor by two-thirds before the Supreme Court can open a trial.

The decision comes after Sergio Zveiter, special rapporteur for the corruption case against the Brazilian president said there was sufficient evidence to warrant confirming the charges and proceeding to a trial. 

Making his initial presentation of the case to the Constitution and Justice Committee, or CCJ, of Brazil's Lower House of Congress, Zveiter said, "There is sufficient evidence. This is not a dreamt-up accusation. It is necessary to investigate the president's involvement in receiving R$500,000."

Brazil's Attorney General Rodrigo Janot also requested last month that charges of corruption be brought against President Temer. A few days earlier the Federal Police had confirmed the authenticity of an audio recording made in March as part of a plea bargain.

The decision by the Constitutional Justice Committee, or CCJ, has angered many in the opposition. Shouts of "Temer out!" were yelled outside the chamber.

"How curious - Brazil's Justice absolves Temer with proof of guilt and condemns Luna without any."