UOL Notícias reported on Thursday that 69 newly elected members of Brazil's Congress are the subject of criminal investigations or have been charged as defendants. The figure covers deputies and senators headed to the legislature, according to the outlet.
The cases involve allegations including embezzlement, fraud and corruption, UOL Notícias reported. The count was picked up by other Brazilian outlets, among them Diário do Centro do Mundo and bncamazonas.com.br, which said the 69 are either defendants or under investigation.
One report, from Portal TN Sul, said 24 of the elected federal deputies have previously been arrested, adding that most of them belong to the Workers' Party (PT). That detail comes from Portal TN Sul and has not been independently verified by CYBEV.
The reports surface as the lawmakers prepare to take their seats, putting the backgrounds of a significant share of the incoming congressional class under public scrutiny. UOL Notícias did not, in the material available, break down the 69 by chamber, party or the specific status of each case.
What to watch next: whether the affected lawmakers face any formal moves to block their seating, and how party leaders respond as the new congressional term begins.
