Brasilia — Brazilian President Michel Temer is trying to contain a new corruption scandal involving allegations a minister put pressure on another cabinet member to allow construction of a 30-storey, ocean-front building in a historic preservation area of his hometown. A presidential ethics panel decided on Monday to open an investigation into Geddel Vieira Lima, who as Temer’s point man in negotiations with Congress is a key member of an administration striving to enact unpopular austerity measures. The panel will review whether the minister used his public office to serve his private interests. A Temer spokesman told reporters Vieira Lima would continue in his post pending the panel’s probe. The scandal broke on Friday, when Culture Minister Marcelo Calero resigned, accusing Vieira Lima of putting pressure on him to allow the construction of the building in which Vieira Lima had purchased an apartment. The building had been denied a permit because it is in a historical preservatio...
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