

Currently released so far... 12900 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/08
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
2011/05/13
2011/05/14
2011/05/15
2011/05/16
2011/05/17
2011/05/18
2011/05/19
2011/05/20
2011/05/21
2011/05/22
2011/05/23
2011/05/24
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Consulate Karachi
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AE
ASEC
AS
AR
AMGT
AFIN
AORC
AU
AG
AF
APER
ABLD
ADCO
ABUD
AM
AID
AJ
AEMR
AMED
AL
ASUP
AN
AIT
ACOA
ANET
ASIG
AA
AGMT
AINF
AFFAIRS
ADANA
AY
AADP
ARF
ACS
AGR
AMCHAMS
AECL
AUC
APEC
APECO
AFGHANISTAN
ACAO
ASEAN
ADM
AGAO
AND
ADPM
ATRN
ALOW
AROC
APCS
AORG
AO
AODE
ACABQ
AX
AMEX
AZ
ARM
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
ACBAQ
AFSI
AFSN
AC
ASEX
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
ASCH
AFU
AMG
ATPDEA
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AORL
BR
BO
BA
BM
BL
BH
BK
BEXP
BILAT
BTIO
BF
BU
BD
BY
BE
BG
BB
BBSR
BT
BRUSSELS
BP
BX
BC
BIDEN
BMGT
BWC
BN
BTIU
CA
CS
CO
CD
CR
CPAS
CDG
CI
CDC
CBW
CU
CVIS
CE
CONS
CH
CMGT
CASC
CY
CW
CG
CJAN
CIDA
CODEL
CWC
CIA
CBSA
CEUDA
CFED
CLINTON
CAC
CL
CACS
CIC
CHR
CAPC
CM
CT
CTR
COM
CROS
CN
COPUOS
CV
CF
CARSON
CONDOLEEZZA
CICTE
CYPRUS
COUNTER
COUNTRY
CBE
CKGR
CVR
COUNTERTERRORISM
CITEL
CLEARANCE
COE
CARICOM
CB
CSW
CITT
CACM
CDB
CJUS
CTM
CAN
CLMT
CBC
CNARC
CIS
EFIN
ECON
ETRD
EAID
EC
EU
EUN
EINV
EG
ETTC
EIND
ELAB
EAGR
ECIN
EINT
ENRG
EFIS
ELTN
EAIR
EPET
EZ
ET
ENERG
ECPS
EWWT
EI
ETRN
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EEPET
EUNCH
ER
ES
EN
EMIN
ESENV
ENNP
ENGR
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ENVI
ECINECONCS
ELN
EFTA
ELECTIONS
ENVR
EXTERNAL
ENIV
ESA
EPA
ETRO
ETRDECONWTOCS
EUR
ECUN
EXIM
EK
EUREM
ECONOMY
EUMEM
ERNG
EFINECONCS
EAIDS
ECA
ETRC
EINVEFIN
ETC
EAP
EINN
ECONOMIC
EXBS
ENGY
ECONOMICS
EIAR
EINDETRD
ECONEFIN
EURN
EDU
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ECIP
EFIM
EREL
EINVETC
ECONCS
ETRA
EAIG
EUC
ERD
IQ
IR
IS
IN
IA
IC
IZ
ICRC
ID
IDA
IT
IO
IAEA
ICJ
ICAO
IV
IBRD
IMF
IAHRC
IWC
ILO
ISLAMISTS
IGAD
ILC
ITU
ITF
INRA
INRO
ICTY
INRB
ITALY
IBET
IL
INTELSAT
ISRAELI
IMO
IDP
ICTR
ITRA
IRC
IRAQI
IEFIN
IPR
IIP
INMARSAT
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
INTERNAL
IRS
INTERPOL
IEA
INR
ISRAEL
IZPREL
IRAJ
IF
ITPHUM
IACI
INDO
KPAO
KMDR
KCOR
KNNP
KJUS
KCRM
KDEM
KVPR
KTFN
KPRP
KTIP
KSCA
KSUM
KTEX
KIDE
KIRF
KV
KTIA
KN
KG
KFRD
KWMN
KUNR
KISL
KU
KGHG
KPKO
KOMS
KPAL
KIPR
KMCA
KOMC
KRVC
KSEP
KAWC
KOLY
KWBG
KACT
KFLO
KHIV
KZ
KGIC
KBCT
KDRG
KBTR
KCFE
KE
KHLS
KMPI
KAWK
KPWR
KIRC
KRAD
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFLU
KPLS
KRIM
KSTH
KDDG
KPRV
KICC
KS
KSAF
KBIO
KREC
KCGC
KCIP
KTDB
KWAC
KPAI
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFSC
KSTC
KMFO
KID
KNAR
KMIG
KVRP
KNEI
KGIT
KNSD
KHDP
KSAC
KWMM
KR
KCOM
KAID
KENV
KVIR
KHSA
KO
KCRS
KPOA
KTER
KFIN
KSPR
KTBT
KX
KCMR
KMOC
KCRCM
KBTS
KSEO
KOCI
KNUP
KPAONZ
KNUC
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KSCI
KTLA
KCSY
KTRD
KMRS
KNPP
KJUST
KRCM
KCFC
KCHG
KREL
KFTFN
KLIG
KDEMAF
KGCC
KICA
KHUM
KSEC
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KPIR
KWWMN
KOM
KWNM
KRFD
KRGY
KIFR
KWMNCS
KPAK
MARR
MOPS
MUCN
MCAP
MNUC
MEPP
MTCRE
MASS
MO
MIL
MX
MAS
MEDIA
MAR
MI
MQADHAFI
MPOS
MTCR
MK
MG
MA
MY
MU
ML
MPS
MW
MD
MARAD
MC
MR
MT
MTRE
MASC
MRCRE
MAPP
MZ
MP
MOPPS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MEPN
MEPI
MEETINGS
MERCOSUR
MCC
MIK
MAPS
MV
MILITARY
MDC
MASSMNUC
NI
NZ
NL
NO
NPT
NATO
NS
NU
NP
NPA
NSFO
NDP
NT
NW
NASA
NSG
NE
NORAD
NAFTA
NG
NATIONAL
NSSP
NV
NSF
NK
NA
NEW
NPG
NR
NGO
NIPP
NZUS
NH
NC
NRR
NAR
NATOPREL
NSC
OIIP
OPRC
OTRA
OEXC
OREP
OSCE
OVIP
OPAD
OBSP
OECD
OFFICIALS
OAS
OPDC
ODIP
OPCW
OES
OFDP
OPIC
OCS
OIC
OHUM
OSCI
OVP
ODC
OIE
OTR
OMIG
OSAC
OFDA
ON
OCII
PREL
PINR
PGOV
PARM
PE
PTER
PHUM
PO
PINS
PREF
PK
PM
POL
PBTS
PNAT
PHSA
PAS
PA
PL
PGIV
PHUMPREL
POGOV
PAK
PEL
PROP
PP
PINL
PBT
PTBS
PG
PINF
PRL
PALESTINIAN
PSEPC
POSTS
PAHO
PHUMPGOV
PGOC
PNR
PREFA
PMIL
POLITICS
POLICY
PROV
PBIO
PREO
PAO
PDOV
PGOF
POV
PCI
PRAM
PSI
POLITICAL
PAIGH
PJUS
PARMS
PROG
PTERE
PRGOV
PORG
PS
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PPA
PINT
PMAR
PRELP
PNG
PFOR
PUNE
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
POLINT
PGOVE
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PDEM
PECON
PY
PLN
PHUH
PF
PHUS
PU
PARTIES
PCUL
PGGV
PSA
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
RU
RS
REGION
REACTION
REPORT
RO
RW
RCMP
RSO
RP
RM
ROOD
RFE
RICE
ROBERT
RSP
RF
RELATIONS
RIGHTS
RIGHTSPOLMIL
RUPREL
SENV
SY
SNAR
SCUL
SP
SF
SW
SOCI
SU
SMIG
SO
SA
SR
SZ
SI
SC
SEVN
SN
STEINBERG
SK
SH
SNARCS
SPCE
SARS
SNARN
SG
SL
SYRIA
SIPRS
SAARC
SNARIZ
SWE
SYR
SEN
SCRS
SAN
ST
SIPDIS
SSA
SPCVIS
SOFA
SENVKGHG
SANC
SHI
SHUM
TU
TSPA
TBIO
TS
TRGY
TINT
TPHY
TN
TW
TH
TZ
TSPL
TP
TBID
TI
TF
TD
TT
TNGD
TL
TC
THPY
TIP
TX
TV
TK
TERRORISM
TO
TRSY
TURKEY
TFIN
TAGS
TR
UK
UNSC
UNGA
UNESCO
UNHRC
UP
UN
USTR
US
UNDC
UY
UNICEF
UNDP
UNMIK
UNAUS
UNCHC
UNCSD
USOAS
UNFCYP
UG
UNIDROIT
UNO
UV
UNHCR
UNEP
USEU
UZ
UNCND
USUN
UNCHR
USNC
USPS
USAID
UE
UNVIE
UAE
UNODC
UNCHS
UNFICYP
UNDESCO
UNC
UNPUOS
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 05BRASILIA1979, BRAZILIAN CONGRESS INVESTIGATES CORRUPTION
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #05BRASILIA1979.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
05BRASILIA1979 | 2005-07-22 20:13 | 2011-02-23 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy Brasilia |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 BRASILIA 001979
SIPDIS
TREASURY FOR PARODI
STATE PASS TO USTR
USDOC WASHDC
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON BR
SUBJECT: BRAZILIAN CONGRESS INVESTIGATES CORRUPTION
ALLEGATIONS -- A PRIMER ON THE ROLE OF CPI'S
REF: A. BRASILIA 1494
¶B. BRASILIA 1544
¶C. BRASILIA 1622
¶D. BRASILIA 1631
¶E. BRASILIA 1819
¶F. BRASILIA 1867
¶G. BRASILIA 1849
¶1. SUMMARY. A series of interlocking and expanding corruption scandals (reftels) that have engulfed the Brazilian government and President Lula da Silva's Workers' Party (PT) since May has led to the establishment of three separate, but closely related, Congressional Inquiry Committees (CPIs): the Brazilian Postal Service CPI; the Bingo Houses CPI; and the vote-buying scheme CPI. Although divided due to disagreements between the government and the opposition, the investigations conducted by the three committees have a common purpose and are expected to work concomitantly. Post will track the developments of the CPIs and follow with regular updates on the corruption scandals. END SUMMARY.
THE ROLE OF A CONGRESSIONAL INQUIRY COMMITTEE (CPI) --------------------------------------------- ------
¶2. The Congressional Inquiry Committee (CPI) is the only body within the Brazilian Congress that has subpoena powers when investigating allegations against its members. A CPI has the same investigative powers as any judicial authority. However, it cannot establish penalties, and must route its final report to the appropriate judicial organ. A CPI can be unicameral or bicameral and must investigate a specific issue over a set period of time, which can be extended until the end of the legislature within which the CPI was created. Each committee is composed of a president, vice-president, rapporteur, and a varying number of members from most of the parties, depending on the CPI's focus. Herewith is a primer -- the CPIs involved in investigating current scandals:
THE FIRST CPI: INVESTIGATING THE POSTAL SERVICE & MORE --------------------------------------------- ---------
¶3. Purpose: To investigate the causes and consequences of the corruption allegations in the Brazilian Postal Service (reftels). Even though the original purpose of this CPI was to investigate the corruption scheme in the Postal Service, in practice, it is investigating all corruption allegations that have emerged during the last few months. This is largely due to its broad mandate and because it has been active longer than the other two CPIs. Background: The May 15 edition of Brazil's newsmagazine VEJA revealed a corruption scheme involving the head of the Postal Service's Contracting Department, Mauricio Marinho. Caught on tape negotiating bribes, Marinho pointed out that he was politically connected to Deputy Roberto Jefferson, now former president of the PTB party (an ally in President Lula's governing coalition). Soon after the publication of the article, the PTB-connected head of the Brazilian Reinsurance Institute (IRB) revealed that he had been pressured by Jefferson to skim money from the IRB and to funnel it to PTB campaign coffers (ref A). Type: Bicameral (16 Senators and 16 Deputies) Set up: June 9, 2005 President: Senator Delcidio Amaral (PT-MS) Rapporteur: Deputy Osmar Serraglio (PMDB-GO) Latest developments: In a television interview, former PT treasurer Delubio Soares acknowledged that he had received approximately U$16 million in loans from Marcos Valerio -- an advertising executive accused of being the party's "bagman" -- which were used to pay the PT's campaign bills for 2002 and 2004. The money was never recorded on the party's accounting books. On July 18, Soares confessed to the violation of electoral regulations, but refused to admit to criminal allegations of corruption with money taken from state-owned companies and denied the existence of a vote-buying scheme. However, bank records being examined by the CPI showed that the PT and other parties members withdrew more than U$12 million since 2003 from bank accounts belonging to Marcos Valerio (septel discussed this development in more detail).
SECOND CPI: THE BINGO HOUSES ----------------------------
¶4. Purpose: To investigate the use of bingo houses for money laundering purposes, and the relationship of these houses with organized crime and illegal campaign financing. Background: In February 2004, a scandal involving Waldomiro Diniz, Casa Civil's Chief of Congressional Relations and one of former Presidential Chief of Staff Jose Dirceu's closest aides, broke out as a numbers racketeer, Carlinhos Cachoeira ("Charlie Waterfall"), released a clandestine video tape of his conversation with Diniz in July 2002. The tape revealed Diniz trying to extort a "side payment" bribe to maintain Cachoeira's bingo and lottery operations in Rio de Janeiro and soliciting illegal campaign contributions. Last year, the PT refused to assign members to a CPI, arguing that this was solely a police matter. Consequently, the CPI, though approved, was not established until recently when the Supreme Court ruled that parties must name members for an approved CPI. Type: Unicameral (15 Senators) Set up June 29, 2005 President: Senator Efraim Morais (PFL-PB) Vice-President: Senator Mozarildo Cavalcanti (PTB-RR) Rapporteur: Senator Garibaldi Alves Filho (PMDB-RN) Latest developments: Cachoeira, the first witness called before the CPI, testified that Diniz had operated alone and had no ties with Jose Dirceu. Cachoeira also stated that Diniz had lied about the bribe being for Geraldo Magela's (PT-DF) 2002 governor went directly into Diniz's pockets. Opposition members of the CPI complained that Cachoeira was "covering up" for Dirceu.
THIRD CPI: THE VOTE-BUYING SCHEME ---------------------------------
¶5. Purpose: To investigate two alleged vote-buying schemes: the current scandal involving the PT and other parties from the governing coalition, and another vote-buying scheme for the "reelection bill" during the Cardoso administration. Background: In a testimony before the Chamber's Ethics Committee, PTB Congressman Jefferson alleged that over the past two years members of the PT party had been paying monthly bribes to buy votes in Congress. Jefferson stated that the vote-buying scheme was controlled by the PT's former treasurer Delubio Soares, and its former Secretary General, Silvio Pereira, with the blessing of PT's former President Jose Genoino and former Lula's Chief of Staff Jose Dirceu (ref B). Type: Bicameral (18 Senators and 18 Deputies) Set up: July 20, 2005 President: Senator Amir Lando (PMDB-RO) Rapporteur: Deputy Ibrahim Abi-Ackel (PP-MG) Latest developments: As noted in paragraph 3, the separate CPI on postal corruption has already initiated and heard testimony that relates to the vote bribe allegations. The governing coalition maneuvered to control the key seats of this CPI to try to protect Lula, the PT, and the administration from collateral damage, and was successful in getting former Social Security Minister Amir Lando elected as president of the committee.
FOCUS ON CORRUPTION: OTHER DEVELOPMENTS ---------------------------------------
¶6. In a parallel investigation, the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office uncovered a scheme by which Marcos Valerio's companies borrowed approximately U$17 million from private and state-owned banks using contracts with state companies (such as the Postal Service) as collateral. According to Valerio's testimony to the Prosecutor's Office, the money was given to the PT to finance its electoral campaigns and other allied parties, but he denied the payment of monthly bribes. Valerio also stated that former Chief of Staff Jose Dirceu knew about the scheme to funnel funds from loans backed by state-owned companies to the Workers' Party (PT), and Valerio also surrendered a list of persons who were authorized to make withdrawals of money loaned to the PT (see septel). The opposition is seeking sanctions against the Workers' Party, including the blocking of public party-building funds and the cancellation of the party's registry with the electoral authority.
WHO'S WHO IN THE CPI'S ----------------------
- Jose Dirceu (PT): former Chief of Staff and deputy. Accused of approving the vote-buying scheme; could be summoned to testify before the three CPIs.
- Jose Genoino (PT): former PT president. Accused of approving the vote-buying scheme; was replaced by Education Minister Tarso Genro as PT president.
- Delubio Soares (PT): former PT treasurer. Accused of controlling the vote-buying scheme; was replaced by Deputy Jose Pimentel.
- Silvio Pereira (PT): former PT secretary-general. Accused of controlling the vote-buying scheme; was replaced by former Labor Minister Ricardo Berzoini.
- Luis Gushiken (PT): Communications Sectetary. Lost his rank as cabinet minister and is accused of giving benefits to one of Valerios' companies in a public bid.
- Roberto Jefferson (PTB): former PTB party president, and deputy. After being accused of heading the corruption scheme in the Postal Service and the Brazilian Reinsurance Institute, he accused PT members of paying monthly bribes to buy votes in Congress.
- Mauricio Marinho: former head of the Postal Service's Contracting Department. Caught on tape negotiating bribes; alleged that he was politically connected to Deputy Roberto Jefferson.
- Marcos Valerio: advertising executive in Belo Horizonte. Accused of being the "bagman"; transferred cash to PT campaign coffers and is accused of paying monthly bribes to members of Congress.
- Fernanda Somaggio: Valerio's former-secretary and principal witness against him.
- Waldomiro Diniz: former Chief of Congressional Relations of the Casa Civil. Caught on tape soliciting bribes from a numbers racketeer.
Comment: --------
¶7. (SBU) The Brazilian congress is now utterly absorbed by the scandal investigations. That, coupled with the fragility of the President's coalition in the legislature and his lack of political clout there, make progress unlikely on many substantive agenda items (with the exception, perhaps, of political reform) from now until the 2006 elections. But it is institutionally important to the Congress ) and to Brazil as a whole ) that the CPIs manage to produce credible results in their investigations of corruption allegations among not only the GOB and PT officials, but implicated congressmen as well. We will monitor the key investigation developments and report them regularly in septels to follow.
MANGANIELLO