RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Brazilian Senate Ethics Committee on Tuesday announced its decision to dismiss an accusation of corruption against Senator Aecio Neves, who ran for president in the last election.
Neves, at the center of the most recent struggle between the legislature and the Justice, was accused of obstruction of justice in a corruption case.
He was caught on tape negotiating a large sum of money with businessman Joesley Batista, from meatpacker JBS. Batista said the money was a bribe, but Neves denied it, calling it a loan.
The Supreme Court suspended his post from the Senate during the investigation, leading to strong reactions in the Senate, which accused the Supreme Court of interfering in Congress.
The Court had to rule that the Senate vote to cancel Neves' suspension from Congress. Neves was returned to the Senate by a 44-to-26 vote.
Neves, who narrowly lost the presidency in 2014, is chairman of the Brazilian Social Democracy Party, one of the biggest in Congress.
Local media reported that President Michel Temer, who is being investigated for corruption crimes himself, was personally involved in getting enough votes in Neves' favor.
