Senator Ângelo Coronel responds to controversial photo with investigated lawyer

Senator Ângelo Coronel (Republicanos-BA) has addressed the controversy surrounding a photograph showing him alongside several politicians at the residence of lawyer Willer Tomaz in Planaltina, DF. The image, taken in April 2023, was discovered by the Federal Police on the mobile phone of Senator Weverton Rocha during the ‘Operation Sem Desconto’ investigation, which is looking into fraud within the National Social Security Institute (INSS).

Coronel stated he is “tranquil” regarding the disclosure, arguing that attendees at political events do not typically check the criminal records of other guests. He described the individuals in the photo as a “group of friends” regardless of their political affiliations.

Other prominent figures identified in the photograph include former President of the Chamber of Deputies Arthur Lira, Alexandre Ramagem, and former Minister of Communications Juscelino Filho. While the Federal Police investigation has targeted Tomaz and relatives of Weverton Rocha, the senator himself was not a target of the search warrants.