SAO PAULO — Police arrested state legislators in Rio de Janeiro on Thursday as part of an investigation into allegations they accepted bribes in exchange for supporting a criminal organization run by a former governor, Brazilian officials said. Police arrested seven sitting state lawmakers Thursday. Police also executed dozens of search warrants and arrested 12 other people in connection with the probe. The probe is part of Brazil’s massive “Operation Car Wash” investigation, which has revealed almost systemic graft in the political system. Federal prosecutors said in a statement that the legislators are accused of accepting monthly “allowances” — some worth tens of thousands of dollars — in exchange for supporting Cabral.

Source: Washington Post November 08, 2018 15:12 UTC