Brazil's Michel Temer charged with corruption

Brazil’s top federal prosecutor has charged President Michel Temer with accepting bribes, the first of what is expected to be a series of graft allegations against the leader in the coming weeks.

Temer is accused of receiving money from the boss of a giant meatpacking firm implicated in a corruption scandal. Prosecutor Rodrigo Janot delivered the charge to the supreme court on Monday and, under Brazilian law, the lower house of congress must now vote on whether to allow the tribunal to try a sitting president.

Temer denies any wrongdoing and has vowed to prove his innocence.

Lawmakers within Temer’s coalition are confident they have the votes to block the two-third majority required to proceed with a trial.

Temer has faced a slew of accusations since taking office last year but these are the first formal charges against him.

The move follows the release of an audio recording in which Temer appears to be discussing bribes in conversation with Joesley Batista, the chairman of the meatpacking company JBS.