Brazil senators urge investigation deputy prosecutor general

By Bala Chambers

LONDON (AA) - Senators in Brazil are pushing for an investigation into a chief prosecutor after she dropped most of the charges against President Jair Bolsonaro for his coronavirus response.

Former members of a senate committee looking into Bolsonaro's COVID-19 handling filed a lawsuit Tuesday with the Supreme Court against Deputy Prosecutor General Lindora Araujo after she dropped many of the charges against the president.

A congressional inquiry had recommended Bolsonaro be charged with nine offenses, including crimes against humanity and pushing false virus treatments.

Throughout the pandemic, the far-right president also downplayed the severity of COVID-19, calling it a "little flu” and urged Brazilians not to stay at home nor use masks.

Bolsonaro also rejected offers from Pfizer to sell vaccines to Brazil.

An estimated 677,000 people have died in Brazil from the virus, more than any nation, except the US, according to the World Health Organization.

A congressional inquiry looking into Bolsonaro's management of the pandemic ended last October with several recommendations for Bolsonaro to face charges.

But Araujo dropped five of the nine charges, resulting in demands for her to be investigated for alleged "malfeasance."

Seven senators urged the Supreme Court to ignore her decision, as they looked to enforce charges against Bolsonaro.

According to the Poder360 news website, the senators called the decision "clearly political" and said it "shields the federal government, by omitting the accusations against Bolsonaro's management."

The chief prosecutor's office argued that the "content initially presented did not meet the legal criteria to motivate the presentation of a criminal complaint," according to Poder360.

It also said documents and evidence connecting any alleged crime or misconduct were missing.

Meanwhile, a number of additional charges against Bolsonaro remain outstanding although it is not clear whether authorities will pursue them.

The news comes as Bolsonaro has formally launched his re-election campaign, seeking another second four-year term in early October.

Most polls suggest Bolsonaro is behind former President Luiz Inscio Lula da Silva.