Eduardo Cunha, Who Led Impeachment Drive Against Rival in Brazil, Gets a 15-Year Jail Term

by Dramelin 7:00 PM 0 comments

In handing down one of stiffest penalties meted out to a top political figure in Brazil in recent years, the judge said Mr.
Cunha violated his ?enormous? responsibilities as a lawmaker.
Mr.
Cunha, who gained notoriety for his conservative views as an evangelical Christian radio commentator, resigned his speaker role in July amid charges that he took as much as $40 million in bribes for himself and allies.
CONCEI?O DO CAPIM, Brazil ? Eduardo Cunha, the conservative Brazilian political leader who led the push in 2016 to oust Dilma Rousseff, Brazil?s former president, was sentenced on Thursday to more than 15 years in prison.
Mr.
Cunha is the highest-profile politician to be sentenced as a result of the Operation Car Wash investigation into corruption at Petrobras, which has shaken Brazil?s political and business establishments to their core.
?Fifteen years is very tough sentence,? said Mr.
Santoro.