Public Ministry of Rio de Janeiro opens investigation against Minister Daniela Carneiro

The Public Ministry of Rio de Janeiro (MPRJ) opened a criminal investigation process against the Minister of Tourism, Daniela Carneiro. The process was established based on a crime report filed by federal deputy Deltan Dallagnol (Podemos-PR).

The investigation request made by Dallagnol was based on a material from the Metropoles portal, which reported or used more than R$ 1 million from Daniela’s electoral fund when she was running for federal deputy for Rio de Janeiro last year in “ghost graphics” , raising the suspicion of diversion of public verba.

Daniela’s husband, or current prefect of Belford Roxo, Wagner Carneiro (or Waguinho), was the subject of an action by the Public Ministry of Rio de Janeiro for the same reason in 2016 in his campaign for the prefecture at the time. According to the Public Ministry, the money used was not accounted for to produce campaign graphic material.

“President Lula said on January 6 that anyone who commits irregularities in the government would be invited to retire, but after weeks of disclosure in the press of irregularities by various ministers of state and nothing happens. Since Lula has not fulfilled his promise with the Brazilian people, we are acting on the Public Prosecutor’s Office to fulfill the promise that we have made: to inspect, collect, and represent the indignation of society against the abuses of the Lula government,” Deltan said in a note released by his assessment.

The facts, if verified, can characterize the crimes of electoral misappropriation, falsification of electoral accounts and money laundering. These same facts can be configured, still, administrative improbidad.

TO CNN I contacted the advisory of Daniela Carneiro and awaits an answer.

*Material in update.