SAO PAULO, Brazil �� The public battle between Brazilian President Michel Temer and the world's largest meat producer sharpened when JBS owner Joesley Batista was quoted as saying Temer heads the country's "largest and most dangerous criminal organization."
Temer's office said Saturday that the president will sue Batista in response to accusations made in an interview with the weekly magazine Epoca. The JBS owner said Temer used to brazenly ask for money for himself and his allies. "He's not a ceremonious guy with money," Batista was quoted as saying.
A corruption investigation has implicated many of the country's business and political elite and helped bring on the 2016 impeachment of Temer's predecessor, Dilma Rousseff. The nation's Supreme Court has authorized an investigation into Temer on accusations of passive corruption and obstruction of justice.
The latest chapter included the emergence of testimony in which Batista and his brother Wesley describe a wide-ranging scheme of illicit payments, and a recording of Temer seemingly approving a payment of hush money to former Lower House Speaker Eduardo Cunha. J&F Investimentos, which controls JBS, agreed in May to a leniency deal that calls for it to pay a large fine while avoiding prosecution for bribery.
Temer has denied all accusations of wrongdoing, said he won't resign, and has pushed ahead with economic reforms including an overhaul of Brazil's pension system. The president was acquitted this month of electoral board charges that he and Rousseff illegally financed their 2014 campaign.
Cunha, who is in jail, used to refer to Temer as his superior, Joesley Batista, said to the magazine. "Temer is the head of the House's criminal organization," he said, naming other politicians from the group. "This group is very dangerous."
The Brazil Presidency press office, in a statement, said Temer will sue Batista "for the damages caused not only to the institution of Presidency of the Republic, but to Brazil.
"JBS built corrupt relationships with "governments of the past, long before President Michel Temer arrived at the Planalto," the statement said.
