Suspended from office since August of last year, Rio de Janeiro State Governor Wilson Witzel has now been formally removed from office. A special tribunal ruled formed by five judges and five state lawmakers voted unanimously in favor of his impeachment.
Mr. Witzel will now be ineligible for public office for the next five years.
Prosecutors accuse Mr. Witzel of leading a corruption scheme to embezzle funds earmarked for the state’s coronavirus efforts. Investigators identified evidence of a corruption scheme within the state’s Health Department, in which the governor is deemed to have taken part.
Acting Governor Cláudio Castro will now take over the post definitively, though he is alleged to have been involved in the very same corruption scandal that brought down his predecessor.
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