Temer vows to sue JBS tycoon over allegations

President Michel Temer has said he is going to sue business tycoon Joesley Batista this Monday (June 19).

In an interview to Época magazine, Joesley said Temer is the “leader of Brazil's most dangerous gang.”

In a statement issued on Saturday (June 17) rebutting the allegations Batista had made in the interview, the president said Joesley “tells lies on end” and is “the most successful criminal in Brazil's history”.

In the interview, Batista, who owns J&F, a powerful investment holding that controls JBS meatpacking giant, said President Temer “is quite straightforward about money” and always used to have very specific matters to deal with when they met. “He never called me for a chat. Whenever he called I knew he was going to ask me something or wanted information.”

The note released by Planalto Palace, the presidential office, contended that Joesley was the one asking for things at all times and they were always turned down: “In an interview, he says the president always asks him for something in their conversations. It's not like the president to beg around. No requests from the president were ever heard or recorded in their meetings. It's quite the contrary. Joesley was the one that turned to the government to advance his interests, and he did so repeatedly. His requests weren't granted before, let alone after” the statement read.

The note went on to read that in 2005, JBS obtained its first loan from Brazil's National Development Bank (BNDES). Two years later, it posted earnings of $1,22 billion. By 2016, the Batistas' corporate revenue had soared to $55,64 billion. “That relationship was built with past governments, long before President Michel Temer was in presidency,” the statement noted. It denied Batista had any influence in the federal administration.

“His lies will be proven, and we will seek damages for what he has caused not only to the Presidency of the Republic but to Brazil. The government won't be stopped from investigating and holding Mr. Joesley Batista accountable for all the wrongdoing he engaged in before and after his testimony,” the presidency's note read.

Batista also implicated former deputy Eduardo Cunha, the former ministers from Temer's cabinet Geddel Vieira Lima and Henrique Eduardo Alves, and the current ministers Eliseu Padilha (Chief of Staff) and Moreira Franco (chief administrative aide to the Presidency).

“Temer is the head of the Orcrim [criminal organization] at the Chamber of Deputies. Temer, Eduardo, Geddel, Henrique, Padilha, and Moreira. It's their group. Those among them that are not jailed are in the government. These are very dangerous people, you don't want to mess with them.”

OAB

After Joesley Batista's interview emerged, the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB) again called for the impeachment of President Michel Temer.

“After expert legal analysis, OAB has concluded President Michel Temer must be impeached. Just like last year, when OAB called for the impeachment of [former president] Dilma Rousseff, now again there is evidence of impeachable offenses”, read a note signed by Claudio Lamachia, president of the bar association.

Background

Last month, after Joesley Batista's plea bargain deal with the Prosecutor-General's Office (PGR) was officially approved, the Supreme Court (STF) made public a recording of Batista's meeting with Temer in March. In the conversation, which was taped by Batista, the two discussed the political scenario, the economic developments, and mentioned the situation of Eduardo Cunha, who has been jailed over the Car Wash corruption investigation.

Batista gave details of corruption schemes involving both federal and state administrations. Based on his testimony, Supreme Court Justice Edson Fachin authorized an investigation into the allegations implicating President Temer.

The counsel of Eduardo Cunha, Eliseu Padilha, Geddel Vieira Lima, and Henrique Eduardo Alves could not be reached for comment.

Translated by Mayra Borges