Live
Audio Only
Opposition leader and speaker of Brazil’s lower house, Eduardo Cunha was formally charged with corruption and money laundering, the country’s attorney general office confirmed.
Cunha, 56, is accused of accepting US$5 million in bribes between 2006 and 2012 to facilitate contracts with state-controlled oil company, Petrobras.
The Supreme Court, which considers charges against federal politicians, will decide whether the case should go to trial.
RELATED: Understanding Brazil's Political Crisis
Prosecutors claim they have uncovered sufficient evidence from Swiss bank accounts, which support the allegations levied against the influential Brazilian lawmaker.
However, Cunha denied the newly filed charges of corruption and said he will not resign from office.
“I have done nothing wrong and they have no evidence against me,” Cunha said Friday.
Cunha, who has been leading calls for President Dilma Rousseff’s impeachment, previously attempted to persuade the attorney general’s office to protect serving politicians with parliamentary immunity.
Newsletter
