'‘The Pendulum Has Swung Back’: Latin America’s Corruption Fight Stalls' diff viewer (2/3)

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‘The Pendulum Has Swung Back’: Latin America’s Corruption Fight Stalls	‘The Pendulum Has Swung Back’: Latin America’s Corruption Fight Stalls
2019-12-28 18:42:14 UTC	2019-12-31 00:00:15 UTC (2 days later)
RIO DE JANEIRO — The biggest corruption investigation in Latin America history began, humbly enough, at a Brazilian gas station, but as it steamrollered across the region, it took down top government officials and corporate titans alike.	RIO DE JANEIRO — The biggest corruption investigation in Latin America history began, humbly enough, at a Brazilian gas station, but as it steamrollered across the region, it took down top government officials and corporate titans alike.
For those caught up in the scandal, it was a moment of reckoning. For ordinary citizens, it was something else: a moment of hope. Even the most powerful, it appeared, were finally being held to account.	For those caught up in the scandal, it was a moment of reckoning. For ordinary citizens, it was something else: a moment of hope. Even the most powerful, it appeared, were finally being held to account.
Now, five years after the scandal exploded into public view, the region’s drive against corruption has begun to stall.	Now, five years after the scandal exploded into public view, the region’s drive against corruption has begun to stall.
“For a brief moment in time, everyone was within the reach of justice,” said Thelma Aldaña, a former attorney general of Guatemala who indicted the country’s president and vice president in a corruption case in 2015 and became one of the emblematic figures of the crackdown.	“For a brief moment in time, everyone was within the reach of justice,” said Thelma Aldaña, a former attorney general of Guatemala who indicted the country’s president and vice president in a corruption case in 2015 and became one of the emblematic figures of the crackdown.
That crackdown came after years of high commodities prices that buoyed many economies in the region, lifting millions out of poverty — but also feeding government spending and therefore opportunities for graft. When that period of plenty ended, it left government officials vulnerable, and prosecutors free to pursue the powerful.	That crackdown came after years of high commodities prices that buoyed many economies in the region, lifting millions out of poverty — but also feeding government spending and therefore opportunities for graft. When that period of plenty ended, it left government officials vulnerable, and prosecutors free to pursue the powerful.
In Peru, former President Alan García shot himself to death rather than face arrest. In Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, a former president who remained the country’s most commanding political figure, was sentenced to time in prison, as was Marcelo Odebrecht, the head of Latin America’s largest construction conglomerate.	In Peru, former President Alan García shot himself to death rather than face arrest. In Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, a former president who remained the country’s most commanding political figure, was sentenced to time in prison, as was Marcelo Odebrecht, the head of Latin America’s largest construction conglomerate.
But efforts to adopt anti-corruption reforms sputtered amid political pressure. As discredited figures in business and politics mount comebacks, many of those who led the crusade against graft face retaliation. Ms. Aldaña, who is now in exile, faces death threats at home. The task force that enabled her country’s corruption fight was shut down.	But efforts to adopt anti-corruption reforms sputtered amid political pressure. As discredited figures in business and politics mount comebacks, many of those who led the crusade against graft face retaliation. Ms. Aldaña, who is now in exile, faces death threats at home. The task force that enabled her country’s corruption fight was shut down.
“The pendulum went to one side, and now the pendulum has swung back,” said Deltan Dallagnol, the federal prosecutor who led Brazil’s main anti-corruption task force. It was established in 2014 to prosecute cases from the scandal that came to be known as Lava Jato, or Car Wash, after the gas station in Brazil’s capital, Brasília.	“The pendulum went to one side, and now the pendulum has swung back,” said Deltan Dallagnol, the federal prosecutor who led Brazil’s main anti-corruption task force. It was established in 2014 to prosecute cases from the scandal that came to be known as Lava Jato, or Car Wash, after the gas station in Brazil’s capital, Brasília.
All this has helped fuel widespread anger and distrust of the political establishment. Millions of Latin Americans have voted out incumbents and over the past few months have poured into the streets in enormous protests.	All this has helped fuel widespread anger and distrust of the political establishment. Millions of Latin Americans have voted out incumbents and over the past few months have poured into the streets in enormous protests.
In some cases, the credibility of efforts to fight graft was undermined by transgressions committed by the crusaders themselves. In Brazil, leaked cellphone text messages showed the main judge in the investigation giving strategic guidance to federal prosecutors in what criminal procedure experts saw as a clear violation of legal and ethical guidelines.	In some cases, the credibility of efforts to fight graft was undermined by transgressions committed by the crusaders themselves. In Brazil, leaked cellphone text messages showed the main judge in the investigation giving strategic guidance to federal prosecutors in what criminal procedure experts saw as a clear violation of legal and ethical guidelines.
Brazil’s backsliding on corruption may be the most dramatic and consequential in the region, given how much prosecutors accomplished in a few years. The Car Wash task force has filed charges against 476 people, struck 136 plea agreements and recovered more than $900 million in stolen assets.	Brazil’s backsliding on corruption may be the most dramatic and consequential in the region, given how much prosecutors accomplished in a few years. The Car Wash task force has filed charges against 476 people, struck 136 plea agreements and recovered more than $900 million in stolen assets.
Brazilian companies with projects around the region exported the corruption scheme they had perfected at home. The companies used money-laundering operations — such as the one that operated out of the gas station in Brasília — to clear cash used to pay off high-ranking politicians and parties. In exchange for the money, inflated public works contracts were steered the companies’ way.	Brazilian companies with projects around the region exported the corruption scheme they had perfected at home. The companies used money-laundering operations — such as the one that operated out of the gas station in Brasília — to clear cash used to pay off high-ranking politicians and parties. In exchange for the money, inflated public works contracts were steered the companies’ way.
Chief among these companies was Odebrecht, a Brazil-based construction conglomerate that paid more than $780 million in bribes across Latin American and the Caribbean to capture contracts worth $3.34 billion, according to the United States Justice Department.	Chief among these companies was Odebrecht, a Brazil-based construction conglomerate that paid more than $780 million in bribes across Latin American and the Caribbean to capture contracts worth $3.34 billion, according to the United States Justice Department.
The scandal upended politics in Brazil, where every large party was implicated in illegal campaign finance and kickback schemes.	The scandal upended politics in Brazil, where every large party was implicated in illegal campaign finance and kickback schemes.
The arrest and eventual imprisonment of Mr. da Silva, the former president, for accepting the use of a seaside apartment in exchange for steering government contracts represented a turning point for the country.	The arrest and eventual imprisonment of Mr. da Silva, the former president, for accepting the use of a seaside apartment in exchange for steering government contracts represented a turning point for the country.
For some, seeing Brazil’s most commanding political figure in jail was the culmination of the anti-corruption drive and evidence that the law was finally being applied equally to everyone. For others, it was evidence that the investigation was politically contaminated and beginning to backslide into the influence trading it was intended to remedy.	For some, seeing Brazil’s most commanding political figure in jail was the culmination of the anti-corruption drive and evidence that the law was finally being applied equally to everyone. For others, it was evidence that the investigation was politically contaminated and beginning to backslide into the influence trading it was intended to remedy.
The unusual zeal and speed with which the leftist firebrand’s case was handled made it politically fraught: When Mr. da Silva was imprisoned in April of last year to start serving a 12-year sentence for corruption and money laundering, he was the front-runner in the presidential race. The conviction blocked him from the ballot and paved the way for the election of the far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro.	The unusual zeal and speed with which the leftist firebrand’s case was handled made it politically fraught: When Mr. da Silva was imprisoned in April of last year to start serving a 12-year sentence for corruption and money laundering, he was the front-runner in the presidential race. The conviction blocked him from the ballot and paved the way for the election of the far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro.
Suspicion that the prosecution was politically motivated only grew after Sérgio Moro, the judge who handled Mr. da Silva’s case, joined President Bolsonaro’s cabinet as justice minister. That appointment — which came with a promise of an eventual seat on the Supreme Court — outraged politicians on the left and tarnished the image of Mr. Moro, who had become a folk hero at home and a celebrated jurist abroad.	Suspicion that the prosecution was politically motivated only grew after Sérgio Moro, the judge who handled Mr. da Silva’s case, joined President Bolsonaro’s cabinet as justice minister. That appointment — which came with a promise of an eventual seat on the Supreme Court — outraged politicians on the left and tarnished the image of Mr. Moro, who had become a folk hero at home and a celebrated jurist abroad.
“If there’s one thing a judge needs, that is autonomy from the political establishment,” said Margarita ~~Stolbitzer,~~ a former lawmaker in Argentina and prominent activist against graft who said she was astonished by Mr. Moro’s decision to join Mr. Bolsonaro’s cabinet. “I felt he defrauded us, considering the image he sold of himself.”	“If there’s one thing a judge needs, that is autonomy from the political establishment,” said Margarita Stolbizer, a former lawmaker in Argentina and prominent activist against graft who said she was astonished by Mr. Moro’s decision to join Mr. Bolsonaro’s cabinet. “I felt he defrauded us, considering the image he sold of himself.”
Mr. Moro declined a request for an interview. In response to emailed questions, some of which he did not answer, he said he saw the cabinet post as an opportunity to “consolidate the advances that have been made on anti-corruption and extend them to the fight against organized crime and violent crimes.”	Mr. Moro declined a request for an interview. In response to emailed questions, some of which he did not answer, he said he saw the cabinet post as an opportunity to “consolidate the advances that have been made on anti-corruption and extend them to the fight against organized crime and violent crimes.”
Mr. Moro’s legacy suffered a further blow when The Intercept Brasil, an online news outlet, began reporting in June on a trove of leaked text messages exchanged by federal prosecutors. The messages showed that Mr. Moro had provided guidance to the prosecution in Mr. da Silva’s case.	Mr. Moro’s legacy suffered a further blow when The Intercept Brasil, an online news outlet, began reporting in June on a trove of leaked text messages exchanged by federal prosecutors. The messages showed that Mr. Moro had provided guidance to the prosecution in Mr. da Silva’s case.
The leaked messages were a boon to targets of corruption inquiries.	The leaked messages were a boon to targets of corruption inquiries.
“The disclosure of the chats left the Car Wash prosecutors bleeding, and the sharks smelled blood,” said Bruno Brandão, the executive director of Transparency International in Brazil. “What we’re seeing now are major and simultaneous strikes that represent a real threat of a return to the impunity the elites enjoyed historically.”	“The disclosure of the chats left the Car Wash prosecutors bleeding, and the sharks smelled blood,” said Bruno Brandão, the executive director of Transparency International in Brazil. “What we’re seeing now are major and simultaneous strikes that represent a real threat of a return to the impunity the elites enjoyed historically.”
As a candidate, Mr. Bolsonaro vowed to turbocharge the fight against corruption. His willingness to make good on that pledge was tested soon after his election in October 2018. By December, his son Flávio Bolsonaro, a senator, had become a target of a corruption investigation set off by suspicious financial transactions at his former office in the Rio de Janeiro state legislature.	As a candidate, Mr. Bolsonaro vowed to turbocharge the fight against corruption. His willingness to make good on that pledge was tested soon after his election in October 2018. By December, his son Flávio Bolsonaro, a senator, had become a target of a corruption investigation set off by suspicious financial transactions at his former office in the Rio de Janeiro state legislature.
Months later, federal prosecutors cried foul over Mr. Bolsonaro’s protocol-breaking appointment of the new attorney general.	Months later, federal prosecutors cried foul over Mr. Bolsonaro’s protocol-breaking appointment of the new attorney general.
The president has traditionally picked the attorney general from a list put forward by the national association of federal prosecutors. This system was intended to prevent a president from picking a deferential top law enforcement official, since that person oversees corruption inquiries involving elected officials, including the president.	The president has traditionally picked the attorney general from a list put forward by the national association of federal prosecutors. This system was intended to prevent a president from picking a deferential top law enforcement official, since that person oversees corruption inquiries involving elected officials, including the president.
Mr. Bolsonaro instead picked his own man, a move that the prosecutors’ association called “the biggest democratic and institutional setback” for the office in 20 years.	Mr. Bolsonaro instead picked his own man, a move that the prosecutors’ association called “the biggest democratic and institutional setback” for the office in 20 years.
With the authority of law enforcement officials curbed, major graft cases in Brazil are stalled or moving at a glacial pace as powerful defendants appeal convictions and use legal tactics to put off prison sentences.	With the authority of law enforcement officials curbed, major graft cases in Brazil are stalled or moving at a glacial pace as powerful defendants appeal convictions and use legal tactics to put off prison sentences.
Eike Batista, once one of the world’s top 10 richest men, was sentenced in July 2018 to 30 years in prison for paying millions in bribes, but he has yet to start serving time.	Eike Batista, once one of the world’s top 10 richest men, was sentenced in July 2018 to 30 years in prison for paying millions in bribes, but he has yet to start serving time.
Former President Michel Temer remains free despite a flurry of criminal charges that have dogged him since 2017. They include an instance in which Mr. Temer was surreptitiously recorded condoning the payment of a bribe to keep a former political ally from detailing crimes to the authorities.	Former President Michel Temer remains free despite a flurry of criminal charges that have dogged him since 2017. They include an instance in which Mr. Temer was surreptitiously recorded condoning the payment of a bribe to keep a former political ally from detailing crimes to the authorities.
The backsliding in Brazil has been watched closely across the region, where politicians have largely prioritized self-preservation over measures that would make judiciaries more independent, campaign financing more transparent and the public works contract process less prone to bribery.	The backsliding in Brazil has been watched closely across the region, where politicians have largely prioritized self-preservation over measures that would make judiciaries more independent, campaign financing more transparent and the public works contract process less prone to bribery.
In Guatemala, President Jimmy Morales shut down a United Nations panel of experts that had been helping the attorney general’s office build complex, sensitive corruption cases. The decision came after Mr. Morales, who campaigned under the motto “neither corrupt nor a thief,” came under investigation for allegedly receiving illegal campaign contributions.	In Guatemala, President Jimmy Morales shut down a United Nations panel of experts that had been helping the attorney general’s office build complex, sensitive corruption cases. The decision came after Mr. Morales, who campaigned under the motto “neither corrupt nor a thief,” came under investigation for allegedly receiving illegal campaign contributions.
The government of Honduras, which had signed off on the establishment of a similar entity there in 2016, this year declined to renew its mandate.	The government of Honduras, which had signed off on the establishment of a similar entity there in 2016, this year declined to renew its mandate.
Those models enjoyed widespread public support in 2016, when the United States Justice Department announced that Odebrecht, the Brazilian construction company, had agreed to pay a $3.5 billion penalty after confessing that it had set up a department to bribe politicians across the region to secure public works contracts.	Those models enjoyed widespread public support in 2016, when the United States Justice Department announced that Odebrecht, the Brazilian construction company, had agreed to pay a $3.5 billion penalty after confessing that it had set up a department to bribe politicians across the region to secure public works contracts.
The founder of the company, Marcelo Odebrecht, struck a plea deal with prosecutors in Brazil and served two and a half years in prison. The company then extended an offer to the countries where it had paid bribes: In exchange for immunity from new prosecutions, it said, it would disclose the money paid and the contracts secured fraudulently.	The founder of the company, Marcelo Odebrecht, struck a plea deal with prosecutors in Brazil and served two and a half years in prison. The company then extended an offer to the countries where it had paid bribes: In exchange for immunity from new prosecutions, it said, it would disclose the money paid and the contracts secured fraudulently.
Some countries — including Ecuador, Peru and the Dominican Republic — took Odebrecht up on its offer, and saw former presidents arrested as a result. But in Colombia and Argentina, a lack of political will has prevented investigations into Odebrecht’s corruption from advancing.	Some countries — including Ecuador, Peru and the Dominican Republic — took Odebrecht up on its offer, and saw former presidents arrested as a result. But in Colombia and Argentina, a lack of political will has prevented investigations into Odebrecht’s corruption from advancing.
Vice President Marta Lucía Ramírez of Colombia called the failure to crack open the Odebrecht case deeply troubling in a country that has been roiled in recent days by mass protests.	Vice President Marta Lucía Ramírez of Colombia called the failure to crack open the Odebrecht case deeply troubling in a country that has been roiled in recent days by mass protests.
“It has very serious consequences, and it’s seriously undermining people’s trust in institutions, political parties, Congress and the justice system,” she said. “That puts the future of democracy in jeopardy.”	“It has very serious consequences, and it’s seriously undermining people’s trust in institutions, political parties, Congress and the justice system,” she said. “That puts the future of democracy in jeopardy.”