Convicted congressman to be barred from House committees

Members of Congress will bar the appointment of their colleague Daniel Silveira to a seat on the Constitution and Justice Committee, the most important of the House committees. The decision will not be down to Mr. Silveira being sentenced to almost nine years in prison last week — but because politicians fear deepening the institutional crisis between the Supreme Court and the other branches of government.

Mr. Slveira was convicted on Wednesday after making threats to Supreme Court justices and inciting violence against the court. Less than a day later, President Jair Bolsonaro tried to nullify the decision by issuing a pardon, although there is not yet clarity about how far-reaching this decree will be.

On Wednesday, Mr. Silveira was picked for a seat on four House committees. But the backlash led lawmakers to put pressure on his party to withdraw his nomination.

The Constitution and Justice Committee analyzes every bill that passes through the lower house, and participation is much sought after among lawmakers.

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