Katie CammarataBrazilian President Michel Temer is facing new corruption and money laundering charges.
The country's highest prosecutor lodged the charges on Wednesday.
They came out of an investigation into possible fraud surrounding the country's ports. Temer faces allegations that he accepted bribes to issue a decree last year that led to favorable contracts for port companies. Five other people were charged in the probe.
Temer's office said in a statement that nothing was irregular and no company benefited illegally from the change.
This is the third corruption charge filed against Brazil's outgoing president. Brazilian law gives presidents immunity, so as long as he's president, Temer can't be prosecuted, unless Brazil's Supreme Court strips him of that immunity.
But starting Jan. 1 the incoming president — Jair Bolsonaro — will take over the seat, so that's likely when Temer will have to start facing the charges filed against him.
