Congress in Brazil Expels Cunha

Brazil took the obvious next step against corruption last night, expelling former Speaker Eduardo Cunha from Congress not for bribery, but for the simpler charge of failing to declare Swiss bank accounts that appear to hold the proceeds of bribes. The outcome is the same: Cunha is no longer in public office and faces an eight-year ban from any government position. The timing shows how hesitant the country is to address corruption. The expulsion was put off almost until the last possible moment, and Cunha now goes off to face the first of what could be dozens of criminal charges. Cunha has said all along that if expelled, he was prepared to testify against half of Congress in the ongoing corruption probe, and it appears he will now have that opportunity.