After promising a face-to-face defense, Witzel speaks by video before the impeachment vote: “I have already been tried,” says Rio de Janeiro

In the session, the deputies approved by 69-0 a bill that authorizes the opening of a criminal responsibility process against the outgoing governor. Now the case goes to a Mixed Court made up of five deputies and five judges of the Court of Justice, where it will be tried. The deputies voted for continuity

• SEE HOW THE IMPeachment SESSION WAS

A former federal judge, he fired his lawyers and delivered a fierce speech himself, attacking what he called abuse and injustice against him and saying he was “previously tried” by parliament. In front of the outgoing governor, 28 deputies spoke and all spoke in favor of the continuation of the political trial against Witzel.

“What has happened is something absolutely unfair. I had no right to speak either in the Assembly or in the courts. They are lynching me morally and politically without having the right to defend myself,” Witzel said. “I don’t mind being judged and judged because I have the conviction that I never committed an illegal act.”

Witzel raised his tone and said that Alerj should have the “manhood to regain his dignity”, beginning to face the deputies, on whom he depended on votes to save himself. The outgoing governor also affirmed that several parliamentarians never approached him and that “they do not provide any solution”, approving projects that do not have a budget to carry out.

“This house is in the process of accepting, apparently, true, it is already unanimous, everyone has already spoken, so why am I going to try to defend myself here? I cannot defend myself when the judges have previously expressed that they will vote yes to mine. My complaint. What sentence is that? Never, as a magistrate, have I previously expressed my judgment of admissibility in a complaint or in a sentence. Because several times at the end of the process I acquitted the accused. “

Witzel also cited Tiradentes – Joaquim José da Silva Xavier, symbol of the Inconfidência Mineira – as a reference for those who suffered “injustice”, since he says he is a victim.

Thank you for the opportunity, Mr. President André Ceciliano (PT-RJ), to exercise my sacred right to defense in this historic gallery, albeit virtually, of the palace that bears the name of Tiradentes, symbol of the fight for freedom and against oppression. Tiradentes, who was denounced, sold, died hanged and the parts of his body were thrown into the public square to serve as an example of tyranny. Tyranny chooses its victims and exposes them so that others no longer dare, ”he declared.

By citing his transsexual son, Witzel was moved and defended himself from attacks on his alleged political radicalism for advocating the “killing” of criminals.

“I reject intolerance because in my house I have a son who lives with intolerance. He often made me cry because of the intolerance I suffered against him. How can I be so intolerant, gentlemen? How can I be that genocide of which you are? Accusing me? How am I going to want the police to kill black, poor, favela in the favela? The honorable police, now I do you an honor that you do not have the courage to do, our policemen die in the streets. It is not a poor man. from the favela, he is a rifleman trafficker. ”

The outgoing governor was also excited to quote his wife Helena Witzel, who is also named in the lawsuit. He reportedly received more than R $ 500,000 in bribes from his office, according to the complaint.

“My wife went to start her legal career like anyone else, she received companies to defend. If they were involved in any act, investigate. My wife is a decent, honest person. How many times has she cried because of the accusations made against her, on account of the news, he compares himself with Adriana Ancelmo (former first lady, wife of Sérgio Cabral) ”.

Change of defense plans

Less than a week ago, saying he had “confidence in a fair trial”, Witzel promised to be present.

“In addition to the written defense, before the vote in plenary session I will make my defense in person, proving that I did not commit a crime of responsibility,” he tweeted at the time.

The vote in Alerj can authorize the opening of a criminal case that would be tried in a Mixed Court, which would be made up of five deputies and five judges.

Witzel has already been dismissed preventively by the Superior Court of Justice (STJ), but the Mixed Court can also determine his dismissal, in addition to convicting him of a crime of responsibility, which would mean the loss of political rights for eight years.