Supreme Court decides to file charges against Temer with lower house

After two days of trial, the Supreme Court decided Thursday (Sep. 21) with ten votes against one to submit to the Chamber of Deputies the new charges filed by Prosecutor-General Rodrigo Janot against President Temer. The lower house must now decide whether the court will try the case, as the Constitution dictates.

The court decision goes against the request made by Temer's counsel to suspend the filing of the charges until the Prosecutor-General's Office finishes its probe into the irregularities in the plea bargain statements made by JBS executives.

Under the law, the charges brought against Temer can only be deliberated upon by the Supreme Court after permission is granted by 342 deputies—two thirds of the total number of lawmakers at the lower house.

The first time charges against Temer were filed was in August, when the president was accused of corruption. The allegations were rejected by the Chamber of Deputies.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira