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Brazilian anti-corruption minister resigns over alleged corruption conspiracy

By Andrew V. Pestano
Fabiano Silveira resigned on Tuesday after a tape was released in which he was heard discussing an anti-corruption investigation. His resignations follows a similar one by Brazilian Minister of Planning Romero Jucá. Photo courtesy of Fabiano Silveira
Fabiano Silveira resigned on Tuesday after a tape was released in which he was heard discussing an anti-corruption investigation. His resignations follows a similar one by Brazilian Minister of Planning Romero Jucá. Photo courtesy of Fabiano Silveira

BRASILIA, Brazil, May 31 (UPI) -- Fabiano Silveira, a Brazilian anti-corruption minister serving in the country's interim government, resigned on Monday after allegedly advocating for President Dilma Rousseff's impeachment in an effort to stop a corruption investigation.

Silveira's resignation similarly follows that of Brazilian Minister of Planning Romero Jucá, who resigned May 23. Both men were caught on tape allegedly conspiring for Rousseff's impeachment.

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Silveira, who was appointed by acting Brazilian President Michel Temer, said his remarks were taken out of context. In the recordings, Silveira said the prosecutors investigating corruption allegations were "totally lost," while also advising key politicians on how to defend themselves against the probe.

"Those were generic comments and simple opinion, certainly amplified by the climate of political exasperation we have all witnessed," Silveira said.

Rousseff's allies have said the actions by Jucá and Silveira are proof of a conspiracy to illicitly remove Rousseff from power. The $3.9 billion Petrobras scandal, which has shaken both the government and the semi-public oil company, and contributed to Brazil's recession, has led to dozens of arrests of former and current Petrobras executives, as well as investigations of numerous government officials.

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In 2015, the Brazilian economy was nearly 5 percent smaller than it was the previous year. The Petrobras scandal is partly to blame because it led to decreases in foreign investment.

Rousseff's impeachment trial, which saw her suspension, is not related to Petrobras but to accusations that she juggled accounts to make her government's economic performance seem better than it truly was before she campaigned for re-election in 2014.

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