RIO DE JANEIRO(AP) — Brazil’s federal police formally accused President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva ’s former human rights minister Silvio Almeida of sexual misconduct after he was fired over the allegations last year, a police official said Saturday.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly speak about the case.

Prosecutors will now decide whether to press charges. If they do so, the Supreme Court will either throw them out or accept them, in which case Almeida would face a trial.

Local media outlets reported that police had formally accused Almeida on Friday. He has not commented since then, but has previously denied allegations of wrongdoing.

Lula fired Almeida last September after MeToo Brazil, an organization that defends women vi

See Full Page