The Secretary of Transport of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Washington Reis, and the mayor of Duque de Caxias, Wilson Reis, are targets of the Federal Police operation against vote buying, this Friday morning (13).
Agents comply 22 search and seizure warrants during Operation Têmis, in Baixada Fluminense. The objective is to dismantle a criminal organization that is also suspected of money laundering.
Washington Reis is also former mayor of Duque de Caxias and state president of the MDB in Rio de Janeiro. He is Wilson Reis’ nephew according to information on the Duque de Caxias City Hall website.
On April 4, 2022, Washington resigned as mayor of the city, giving way to the vice mayor, Wilson Reis.
The investigations began in October, when a man was arrested red handed with R$1.9 million in cash under suspicion of buying votes, also in Duque de Caxias.
The PF identified that he is part of a criminal organization that has operated in Baixada Fluminense for many years. The gang moved millions of dollars to illegally finance campaigns of candidates for political office according to the investigation.
The police also point to evidence that companies hired by the public authorities were used to favor politicians in their campaigns maintaining the group’s hegemony in these municipalities.
Suspects may face charges of criminal organization electoral misrepresentation and money laundering.
The Secretariat of Transport and Urban Mobility of Rio de Janeiro stated, in a note, that Secretary Washington Reis “has never been involved in any irregular practice related to vote buying.” Read below in full:
“The Secretary of Transport, Washington Reis, acts in a strictly technical manner and focused on the duties and responsibilities of the Secretariat of Transport of the State of Rio de Janeiro. Matters related to the municipality of Duque de Caxias are not dealt with within the scope of its activities at the Secretariat.
The Secretary informs that he has never been involved in any irregular practice related to vote buying or exit polling. It should also be noted that all campaign accounts were duly approved by the Electoral Court, demonstrating compliance with legal requirements.
The Secretary reiterates that he has nothing to fear and makes himself available to Justice and any competent authorities to provide the necessary clarifications, reaffirming his commitment to transparency and legality”.
In a note, the city hall of Duque de Caxias informed that the mayor “ has no involvement in the case trusts in justice and is available to provide all necessary clarifications”.
THE CNN tries to contact the personal legal representatives of Washington and Wilson Reis.
This content was originally published in Secretary of Transport of RJ and mayor of Caxias are targets of PF operation on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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