Brazilian senators sue President Jair Bolsonaro for malfeasance

Three Brazilian senators have formally sued President Jair Bolsonaro of malfeasance before the Supreme Court on Monday over allegations that he failed to initiate an investigation against a top ally over suspicions of massive corruption in the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines.

The opposition senators include Randolfe Rodrigues, the deputy chair of a commission investigating the administration’s pandemic response, which last week uncovered explosive accusations that Bolsonaro knew about suspected corruption in the deal for Indian-made Covaxin and failed to intervene.

A criminal case against Bolsonaro before the Supreme Court could see him removed from office, though Prosecutor General Augusto Aras, an ally, would have to bring charges.

A congressman close to Bolsonaro, Luis Miranda, testified that the president told him he suspected the scheme was the work of Ricardo Barros, a powerful congressman who is head of Bolsonaro’s coalition in the lower house.

Miranda said Bolsonaro told him in March he would order the police to investigate, but never did.