Former Brazilian President Lula Denies Corruption Charges
Brazil's former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva vigorously denied charges of corruption in his first official public statement since an indictment was made against him Wednesday, According to Reuters, 70-year-old Lula said the charges were fabrications designed to derail his second run for office in 2018. He added that he would be cooperating with prosecutors because he was innocent. He said if charges against him were proved, he would "walk to the police station and hand myself in.", Lula, who was in power from 2003 to 2010, faces allegations of taking bribes disguised as favors from a company connected to the scandal-plagued state-run oil company Petrobras. A criminal conviction would render him ineligible for office for eight years. Lula, who was a popular working-class President, is being indicted just weeks after his chosen successor Dilma Rousseff was impeached on charges that she mismanaged the economy. His wife has also been charged in connection with the ownership of a luxury apartment.