A congressional Ethics Committee in Brazil has voted in favour of removing the president of the senate, Renan Calheiros, following a lengthy corruption scandal.
Calheiros who has been a key ally of president Luiz Inacio da Silva, has denied the charges against him.The issue is certain to go to a final vote on the floor of the senate next week
The move came a week after a decision to charge a former top president aide for corruption. Since this controversy first broke in may this year, Calheiros has fought to preserve his position.But the vote to remove him by a congressional ethics committee is a damaging blow
He had from the start admitted using a lobbyist to pass on child support payments to his former mistress but always claimed it was his own money
However, the revelation prompted questions about how he was able to afford what were generous contributions on a salary of just over $6,000 a month.
Calheiros sought to explain this by claiming he had to explain this by claiming he had income from a number of farms. But alleged customers were interviewed on television and denied ever having done business with him.
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