Brazilian congresswoman, Flordelis dos Santos, is removed after she ‘enlisted her own children to murder her pastor husband ‘

Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies impeached congresswoman Flordelis dos Santos on Wednesday

The 60-yesold politician from Rio de Janeiro, was accused in August 2020 of plotting the murder of her pastor husband, Anderson do Carmo, 42

The couple was arriving at their home in the Rio de Janeiro city of Niterói on June 16, 2019, when their biological son Flavio dos Santos shot him 30 times

The couple raised 50 children, including four of their own.

At least seven are under arrest along with one granddaughter

During her impeachment debate, one of the charges leveled against her was that, ‘[She tried] to obstruct the investigations with theses of robbery, confusing the police, directing the police in different paths from those in which, in fact, they would find the truth of the facts’

Dos Santos who was born and raised in the Rio de Janeiro slum of Jacarezinho, rose to prominence as an evangelical church pastor and gospel singer

A pastor turned politician from Rio de Janeiro who is charged with arranging her husband’s 2019 murder and enlisting their children to carry out the hit has been impeached from Brazil’s lower house.  
The removal of Congresswoman Flordelis dos Santos’ from Brazil’s lower house, was approved by 437 votes to 7 during a special session held in the Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday. Twelve lawmakers abstained from the voting on the motion that impeached and removed dos Santos from office.
Anderson do Carmo, 42, was assassinated on June 16, 2019, when he was shot more than 30 times as the couple walked into their home in the Rio de Janeiro city of Niterói. Nine of the shots struck do Carmo in the pelvic area. 
His 60-year-old wife, dos Santos was not injured in the shooting. 

The couple raised 50 children. 46 of these were adopted, four are their biological children.
In the wake of the murder, five adopted children and two biological children are under arrest along with one granddaughter. 
During her impeachment debate, one of the charges leveled against her was that, ‘[She tried] to obstruct the investigations with theses of robbery, confusing the police, directing the police in different paths from those in which, in fact, they would find the truth of the facts,’ São Paulo congressman Alexandre Leite said on the house floor.
Dos Santos’ legal team filed a habeas corpus with the 2nd Criminal Court of the Court of Rio de Janeiro to prevent her arrest.  

She was formally charged with her husband’s killing on August 24, 2020, the same day authorities announced the arrests of biological children Adriano dos Santos and Simone dos Santos, along with three adopted children – André de Oliveira, Carlos Silva, Marzy Teixeira and Simone dos Santos.
Their granddaughter, Rayane dos Santos was also taken into custody.
The couple’s biological son, Flavio dos Santos, who shot do Carmo, and adopted son Lucas dos Santos, who purchased the gun used in the shooting, were already in police custody.
Former police officer, Marcos Siqueira, had also been under arrest for forging a document.
Despite dos Santos’ alleged involvement, she has remained out of prison due to her immunity as a member of congress.
Police said dos Santos motive was ‘a struggle for power and her financial emancipation.’

‘Flordelis, in addition to devising this entire plan, financed the purchase of this weapon, convinced people to carry out this crime, warned of the victim’s arrival at the scene and tried to hide evidence,’ lead investigator Allan Duarte said at the time of the August 2020 apprehensions.
‘There is no doubt that she was the intellectual author, the great head of this crime.’
Dos Santos reportedly had attempted to poison Anderson do Carmo several times beginning in May 2018, according to Brazilian digital news outlet G1.
She reportedly laced his food with arsenic, which resulted in multiple hospital visits.
‘The relationship between the deputy and her ex-husband, in view of the intercepted conversations, had been going on for a long time, had been in bad shape for a long time, and had gone badly, until it took this tragic end,’ congressman Leite said.

Dos Santos and do Carmo had four children and raised another 46 who were adopted.
Sh Dos Santos was born in Jacarezinho, one of Rio de Janiero’s most dangerous favelas, and rose to prominence as an evangelical church pastor and gospel singer before she was elected to congress in 2018.
The disgraced congresswoman defended herself following the vote, which she described as ‘cruel and cowardly.’
‘If I leave here today, I’ll leave with my head held high because I know I’m innocent and everyone will know I’m innocent. My innocence will be proven,’ dos Santos said.
‘I’ll keep fighting to guarantee my freedom, the freedom of my children and mine family, which is also being wronged with everything that is happening. My family is suffering. My family is being judged.’