Two Brazilian senators charge Prosecutor General with malfeasance

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Senators Alessandro Vieira and Fabiano Contarato filed a criminal complaint in the Federal Supreme Court (STF) against the Federal Prosecutor General (PGR), Augusto Aras, alleging the crime of dereliction of duty (malfeasance).

In the view of the two parliamentarians, PGR Aras has failed to carry out his official duties in the face of what they call “crimes and arbitrary actions” of President Jair Bolsonaro. The complaint is directed to the office of Justice Cármen Lúcia.

Vieira and Contarato ask the STF to forward the criminal complaint to the Superior Council of the Federal Public Ministry, the body responsible for analyzing the conduct of the PGR.

The two allege that Aras “remained inert” in the face of accusations made, without proof, by Bolsonaro about the security of electronic ballot boxes. “He condescended to an outrageous attack on the democratic rule of law,” says the text. “It is clear, therefore, that the Prosecutor General of the Republic has repeatedly refused to perform acts that are incumbent upon him.”

Malfeasance (“prevaricação) is a crime under the Brazilian Penal Code, which consists of failing to perform – or improperly performing – an official act required by law.

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