Ouster of Brazil lawmaker could open political Pandora's box

Latest: Corruption and Money Laundering.

Brazil's former President of the Chamber of Deputies Eduardo
 Cunha speaks during the presentation of his defense in the
Chamber of Deputies, in Brasilia, Brazil, Monday, Sept. 12, 2016.
 Prosecutors accuse Cunha of corruption and money laundering for
 his role in negotiating contracts for drill ships and say he received
an illegal payment of $5 million. less

Ouster of Brazil lawmaker could open political Pandora's  box. RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — The ouster of once-powerful lawmaker Eduardo Cunha poses a threat to other politicians, potentially including Brazil's new president. Analysts said Tuesday it could lead to more people becoming ensnared in the corruption scandals roiling Latin America's largest nation. Cunha no longer enjoys the partial immunity from prosecution that comes with elected office; only the country's highest court can decide to try federal lawmakers. That means the several corruption cases he faces will now go to a lower court judge who is famous for locking up prominent figures. "Cunha has lost his Supreme Court cover so he may begin to sing in terms of a plea bargain to get a reduced sentence," said David Fleischer, a political analyst in the capital, Brasilia. "In doing that, he could accuse a lot of people and open up many Pandora's boxes." Cunha, known for regularly seeking the spotlight, kept a low profile a day after being stripped of his seat on a vote by . Readmore: