Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12900 / 251,287

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28 2011/04/29 2011/04/30
2011/05/01 2011/05/02 2011/05/03 2011/05/04 2011/05/05 2011/05/06 2011/05/07 2011/05/08 2011/05/09 2011/05/10 2011/05/11 2011/05/12 2011/05/13 2011/05/14 2011/05/15 2011/05/16 2011/05/17 2011/05/18 2011/05/19 2011/05/20 2011/05/21 2011/05/22 2011/05/23 2011/05/24

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/05 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01 1988/03 1988/07
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/03 1992/06 1992/09 1992/12
1993/01 1993/10
1994/12
1996/07 1996/11
1997/06 1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11 2002/12
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown Consulate Fukuoka
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata Consulate Karachi
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia Embassy Niamey Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples Consulate Naha
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sapporo Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AE ASEC AS AR AMGT AFIN AORC AU AG AF APER ABLD ADCO ABUD AM AID AJ AEMR AMED AL ASUP AN AIT ACOA ANET ASIG AA AGMT AINF AFFAIRS ADANA AY AADP ARF ACS AGR AMCHAMS AECL AUC APEC APECO AFGHANISTAN ACAO ASEAN ADM AGAO AND ADPM ATRN ALOW AROC APCS AORG AO AODE ACABQ AX AMEX AZ ARM AQ ATFN AMBASSADOR ACBAQ AFSI AFSN AC ASEX AER AVERY AGRICULTURE ASCH AFU AMG ATPDEA ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AORL
BR BO BA BM BL BH BK BEXP BILAT BTIO BF BU BD BY BE BG BB BBSR BT BRUSSELS BP BX BC BIDEN BMGT BWC BN BTIU
CA CS CO CD CR CPAS CDG CI CDC CBW CU CVIS CE CONS CH CMGT CASC CY CW CG CJAN CIDA CODEL CWC CIA CBSA CEUDA CFED CLINTON CAC CL CACS CIC CHR CAPC CM CT CTR COM CROS CN COPUOS CV CF CARSON CONDOLEEZZA CICTE CYPRUS COUNTER COUNTRY CBE CKGR CVR COUNTERTERRORISM CITEL CLEARANCE COE CARICOM CB CSW CITT CACM CDB CJUS CTM CAN CLMT CBC CNARC CIS
DEAX DHS DAO DCM DJ DA DR DEA DE DOD DOMESTIC DO DEFENSE DK DPRK DEPT DISENGAGEMENT DOE DTRA DS
EFIN ECON ETRD EAID EC EU EUN EINV EG ETTC EIND ELAB EAGR ECIN EINT ENRG EFIS ELTN EAIR EPET EZ ET ENERG ECPS EWWT EI ETRN EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ER ES EN EMIN ESENV ENNP ENGR ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS ENVI ECINECONCS ELN EFTA ELECTIONS ENVR EXTERNAL ENIV ESA EPA ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS EUR ECUN EXIM EK EUREM ECONOMY EUMEM ERNG EFINECONCS EAIDS ECA ETRC EINVEFIN ETC EAP EINN ECONOMIC EXBS ENGY ECONOMICS EIAR EINDETRD ECONEFIN EURN EDU ETRDEINVTINTCS ECIP EFIM EREL EINVETC ECONCS ETRA EAIG EUC ERD
FI FR FJ FBI FO FDA FAO FTA FOR FTAA FMLN FISO FAS FAC FREEDOM FM FOREIGN FARC FINANCE FINR FOI
GV GM GH GT GG GR GA GTIP GY GOI GZ GAERC GE GCC GOV GERARD GANGS GLOBAL GTMO GL GF GAZA
HEBRON HSTC HA HUMOR HU HO HR HK HILLARY HYMPSK HI HURI HUMAN
IQ IR IS IN IA IC IZ ICRC ID IDA IT IO IAEA ICJ ICAO IV IBRD IMF IAHRC IWC ILO ISLAMISTS IGAD ILC ITU ITF INRA INRO ICTY INRB ITALY IBET IL INTELSAT ISRAELI IMO IDP ICTR ITRA IRC IRAQI IEFIN IPR IIP INMARSAT ITPGOV ITALIAN INTERNAL IRS INTERPOL IEA INR ISRAEL IZPREL IRAJ IF ITPHUM IACI INDO
JA JO JP JUS JM JAMES JOHN JOHNNIE JOSEPH
KPAO KMDR KCOR KNNP KJUS KCRM KDEM KVPR KTFN KPRP KTIP KSCA KSUM KTEX KIDE KIRF KV KTIA KN KG KFRD KWMN KUNR KISL KU KGHG KPKO KOMS KPAL KIPR KMCA KOMC KRVC KSEP KAWC KOLY KWBG KACT KFLO KHIV KZ KGIC KBCT KDRG KBTR KCFE KE KHLS KMPI KAWK KPWR KIRC KRAD KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KFLU KPLS KRIM KSTH KDDG KPRV KICC KS KSAF KBIO KREC KCGC KCIP KTDB KWAC KPAI KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KFSC KSTC KMFO KID KNAR KMIG KVRP KNEI KGIT KNSD KHDP KSAC KWMM KR KCOM KAID KENV KVIR KHSA KO KCRS KPOA KTER KFIN KSPR KTBT KX KCMR KMOC KCRCM KBTS KSEO KOCI KNUP KPAONZ KNUC KNNPMNUC KERG KSCI KTLA KCSY KTRD KMRS KNPP KJUST KRCM KCFC KCHG KREL KFTFN KLIG KDEMAF KGCC KICA KHUM KSEC KPIN KESS KDEV KPIR KWWMN KOM KWNM KRFD KRGY KIFR KWMNCS KPAK
LE LY LH LU LI LO LG LA LOG LTTE LAB LT LABOR
MARR MOPS MUCN MCAP MNUC MEPP MTCRE MASS MO MIL MX MAS MEDIA MAR MI MQADHAFI MPOS MTCR MK MG MA MY MU ML MPS MW MD MARAD MC MR MT MTRE MASC MRCRE MAPP MZ MP MOPPS MTS MLS MILI MEPN MEPI MEETINGS MERCOSUR MCC MIK MAPS MV MILITARY MDC MASSMNUC
NI NZ NL NO NPT NATO NS NU NP NPA NSFO NDP NT NW NASA NSG NE NORAD NAFTA NG NATIONAL NSSP NV NSF NK NA NEW NPG NR NGO NIPP NZUS NH NC NRR NAR NATOPREL NSC
OIIP OPRC OTRA OEXC OREP OSCE OVIP OPAD OBSP OECD OFFICIALS OAS OPDC ODIP OPCW OES OFDP OPIC OCS OIC OHUM OSCI OVP ODC OIE OTR OMIG OSAC OFDA ON OCII
PREL PINR PGOV PARM PE PTER PHUM PO PINS PREF PK PM POL PBTS PNAT PHSA PAS PA PL PGIV PHUMPREL POGOV PAK PEL PROP PP PINL PBT PTBS PG PINF PRL PALESTINIAN PSEPC POSTS PAHO PHUMPGOV PGOC PNR PREFA PMIL POLITICS POLICY PROV PBIO PREO PAO PDOV PGOF POV PCI PRAM PSI POLITICAL PAIGH PJUS PARMS PROG PTERE PRGOV PORG PS PKFK PSOE PEPR PPA PINT PMAR PRELP PNG PFOR PUNE PGOVLO PHUMBA POLINT PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PDEM PECON PY PLN PHUH PF PHUS PU PARTIES PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
QA
RU RS REGION REACTION REPORT RO RW RCMP RSO RP RM ROOD RFE RICE ROBERT RSP RF RELATIONS RIGHTS RIGHTSPOLMIL RUPREL
SENV SY SNAR SCUL SP SF SW SOCI SU SMIG SO SA SR SZ SI SC SEVN SN STEINBERG SK SH SNARCS SPCE SARS SNARN SG SL SYRIA SIPRS SAARC SNARIZ SWE SYR SEN SCRS SAN ST SIPDIS SSA SPCVIS SOFA SENVKGHG SANC SHI SHUM
TU TSPA TBIO TS TRGY TINT TPHY TN TW TH TZ TSPL TP TBID TI TF TD TT TNGD TL TC THPY TIP TX TV TK TERRORISM TO TRSY TURKEY TFIN TAGS TR
UK UNSC UNGA UNESCO UNHRC UP UN USTR US UNDC UY UNICEF UNDP UNMIK UNAUS UNCHC UNCSD USOAS UNFCYP UG UNIDROIT UNO UV UNHCR UNEP USEU UZ UNCND USUN UNCHR USNC USPS USAID UE UNVIE UAE UNODC UNCHS UNFICYP UNDESCO UNC UNPUOS
VZ VT VE VI VM VTPREL VN VTIZ VTEG VAT VC
WHTI WTRO WTRQ WBG WHO WHA WFP WS WTO WB WI WMD WIPO WZ WWARD WITH WEU WMO WA
XS XH XR XL XG XA XM XK XD XF XI XB XV XW XQ XE XTAG XU XT XX XY XZ XC
YM YI YE YMCS
ZI ZK ZR ZU ZO ZP ZF ZEALAND ZL ZOELLICK ZB ZJ ZN ZA ZANU

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 05SAOPAULO971, Sao Paulo journalists discuss corruption scandal

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #05SAOPAULO971.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
05SAOPAULO971 | 2005-08-16 12:10 | 2011-02-20 08:00 | UNCLASSIFIED | Consulate Sao Paulo

`

    This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

` `

    UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SAO PAULO 000971

    SIPDIS

    STATE  IIP/R/MR; WHA/PD

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: PGOV KPAO BR
    SUBJECT:  Sao Paulo journalists discuss corruption scandal
    in Brazil

    ¶1. Summary: At the end of July/early August, IO Sao Paulo held a series of individual meetings with prominent journalists to discuss the corruption scandal unfolding in Brazil. Various journalists commented that they believe President Lula da Silva (Lula) may not have been aware of the corruption but that they believed that Chief of Staff Jose Dirceu was. They mentioned several rumors regarding the source of the money that businessman Marcos Valerio de Sousa "loaned to members of the government and political party and confessed to have no idea of how the scandal would eventually end. End Summary.

    ¶2. Over a series of days, from July 14 - August 3, IO met separately with eight journalists to gather their opinions on the ongoing government corruption scandal in Brazil. The journalists are all prominent commentators and anchors from television, radio, print and Internet press. Although the journalists had different theories and points of view, the discussions painted an interesting picture of the general view of the media on the scandal.

    Key Goernment Figures:

    ¶3. Most of the journalists seeed not to believe, or did not want to believe, that President Lula knew of corruption in the government and the Worker's Party (PT). All of them however, were certain that Dirceu was aware of and involved in a scheme to pay members of congress to support government policy. They also stated that all parties rely on unregistered funds to support their election campaigns. Many posited that the PT, always in the role of opposition until Lula's election, was not prepared to govern. They suggested that the party did not know how to lobby for votes and support and so resorted to purchasing it. Some referred to the communist roots of the PT and suggested that this same modus operandi of controlling policy through centralization of power led the PT to try to govern through the monthly payments (mensalao). Dirceu was described as an "apparatchik" and someone in whom Lula mistakenly put too much trust. When asked about Finance Minister Antonio Palocci, most journalists thought that he was not involved in the scheme. Others thought that the government did not want attention focused on him and brought up the fact that when Lula was running for office, Palocci replaced Celso Daniel, the mayor of St.Andre, as Lula's campaign coordinator. (Note: Celso Daniel was murdered in what was judged by police to be a robbery attempt. Rumors have persisted that Daniel was in fact murdered because he was investigating corruption in the PT election campaign).

    Follow the Money:

    ¶4. This was the phrase used by several journalists to describe their methods of investigating the scandal. All of the journalists commented that the press is completely free to investigate and that their media outlets are aggressively pursuing the case. One journalist mentioned that the press receives all of the information that the Congressional Investigative Committee (CPI) receives at the same time that the CPI receives it and that they rely upon this information and follow up on it. One journalist commented that he believes this is why the government did not want a CPI. Many media outlets have sent additional staff from Sao Paulo to Brasilia to help report on the scandal. One journalist suggested that the question is not only to whom did Marcos Valerio de Sousa (Valerio) give the money, but also from where/whom, did Valerio get the money. Journalists had differing theories on the origin of the money. One believed that the PT had money from unregistered donations that they transferred to overseas accounts. He suspected that for some reason they could not access these accounts and so had to borrow from Valerio. Others believed that the PT gave lucrative contracts to Valerio and other publicity companies paying much more than they were worth, with the understanding that they would then be able to "borrow" this money and not repay it. Another suggested that the money might have come from state owned companies. A prominent anchorman whose name was among those whose telephones the businessman Daniel Dantas is accused of having illegally tapped in the Kroll scandal, says that he believes that Dantas actually provided the money to Valerio to give to the party.

    Where will it all end?

    ¶5. The journalists confessed they had no idea where the scandal would end. At the time of speaking they doubted that it would end in the impeachment of the President. One journalist posited that unless something is found directly implicating the President, for example a check written to him, the President would not be impeached. Another journalist mentioned that there were rumors that Federal Police raided the Sao Paulo luxury department store, Daslu, because the store had a receipt for a purchase by Lula's wife that was made with Valerio's credit card. The journalist asked, if this is the case, was the raid to uncover this evidence or to cover it up? Some predicted the demise of the PT party. Many commented that Lula helped the PT to win rather than the other way around. Some predicted the PT party would divide between the more liberal elements and the more conservative. Others thought that Lula might begin to court the more leftist members of his party.

    ¶6. As for the upcoming elections, all of the journalists still believed Lula to be a strong contender although many pointed out that polls taken now cannot reliably predict how the electorate will feel next year. They also pointed out that the opposition would use the scandal during the election campaign to attack Lula in a way they are not doing now. Some suggested that it suits the opposition to have a "lame duck" president in office, rather than impeaching him. Another theme was the fear that a populist candidate in the mold of Severino Calvacanti might take advantage of the opportunity and run and win (a la Venezuela's Chavez). More than one journalist mentioned the Rio politician Anthony Garotinho as one such possible candidate. The journalists who suggested this possibility thought that it was remote, but definitely the worst-case scenario.

    7.While many thought that this was a good opportunity to shine a light on corrupt practices in the Brazilian government, few had much hope that this scandal would result in concrete reforms to the political system.

    ¶8. Comment: These conversations took place several weeks ago and time is proving many of the speculations to have some basis in fact. Since the conversations, there have been revelations that the PT may have an offshore account and Dantas's name has also been mentioned in connection with the scandal. Duda Mendonca, who is the businessman who created an offshore account (for the PT?), is married to one of the owners of the department store, Daslu. End comment.

    WOLFE

`