Brazilian commission votes in favor of recommending criminal charges against Bolsonaro

(CNN) — A Brazilian commission investigating the government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic has voted successful favour of charges against President Jair Bolsonaro, among others.

Seven of the commission’s eleven senators voted connected Tuesday evening to enactment recommendations contained in a 1,288-page report on the pandemic. The papers calls for charges against 2 companies and 78 individuals, including Bolsonaro, implicit the pandemic’s tremendous toll connected the country.

More than 605,000 radical person died of COVID-19 successful Brazil — the second-highest fig of deaths successful the satellite aft the United States.

The study alleges that Bolsonaro’s authorities allowed the lethal coronavirus to dispersed done the state successful a failed bid to execute herd immunity. It recommends indicting the president personally with 9 crimes, including incitement to crime, charlatanism, and crimes against humanity.

Bolsonaro has repeatedly dismissed the commission’s probe and resulting study arsenic politically motivated.

The last papers — the effect of six months of probe — volition present beryllium sent to Brazil´s Attorney General’s Office. However, Attorney General Augusto Aras is considered an state of the president and is not expected to prosecute charges.

The committee is besides expected to nonstop a transcript of the study to the International Criminal Court successful the Hague.

‘It is absurd what these guys person done’

Commission rapporteur Senator Renan Calheiros archetypal presented the study publically past week.

He said connected Tuesday that the papers attributes work for the uncontrolled pandemic to galore successful Brazil, but that Bolsonaro bears the main responsibility.

“It is (the responsibility) chiefly of this president, this serial killer, who has a decease compulsion and continues to repetition everything helium has done before,” said Calheiros successful a property league connected Tuesday morning.

Bolsonaro has already rejected the commission’s findings arsenic biased, and connected Monday complained astir the study during an interrogation with a section vigor broadcaster successful Mato Grosso bash Sul.

“They statement maine arsenic genocidal, charlatan, papers forger and exterminator. It is absurd what these guys person done,” the Bolsonaro said, referring to the lawmakers progressive successful the commission.

Bolsonaro has agelong downplayed the severity of the coronavirus, and argued for the request to prioritize Brazil’s economical health. He tested affirmative for COVID-19 successful 2020.