Janones voluntarily surrenders his appeal and submits to a House suspension to evade more severe penalties.
## André Janones Suspended from Brazil's Chamber of Deputies for 90 Days
André Janones, a Brazilian deputy from the Avante party in Minas Gerais, has been suspended for 90 days by the Chamber of Deputies' Ethics Committee. The suspension was approved with 15 votes in favour and 3 against.
### Background
The suspension stems from an incident during a plenary session in the Chamber of Deputies. Janones was accused of using homophobic language to refer to fellow deputy Nicolas Ferreira of the PL party from Minas Gerais. This incident led to a heated exchange between deputies from the PL and Avante parties.
Janones defended his actions, stating that he used the term "Nicole" to refer to Ferreira in response to Ferreira's past transphobic comments made during a session in 2023, when Ferreira mocked International Women's Day. However, Janones claimed he would continue using the term until Ferreira apologized or changed his behavior.
### Current Status
The Ethics Committee concluded that Janones had breached parliamentary decorum by using offensive terms that reinforced prejudices and stigmatized historically marginalized groups. This behavior was deemed incompatible with the institutional environment of the Chamber of Deputies.
Additionally, Janones reported experiencing homophobic verbal and physical aggression from PL deputies following the incident. He filed a complaint with the Ethics Committee, submitting videos as evidence of the alleged aggression.
Janones also faced a disciplinary sanction from the Minas Gerais section of the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB), indicating further scrutiny of his actions outside the legislative context. The suspension is effective immediately, and for 90 days, Janones will be without salary, office, aides, and access to public funds.
Despite the potential for an appeal, Janones has decided not to do so, possibly avoiding a potential six-month suspension if the plenary were to increase his punishment. The parliamentarian's report described Janones' conduct as "outrageous, insulting, and disrespectful." A new process may be opened to analyze the possible cancellation of Janones' mandate.
During the Council session, Janones and his lawyer, Lucas Marques, were present. Janones alleged that he was surrounded and intimidated by more than ten deputies. He also accused the PL deputies of being the "Bolsonarist shock troops." The initial complaint against Janones came from the PL, but was taken up by the presidency of the House.
- The suspension of André Janones from Brazil's Chamber of Deputies for 90 days is a result of policy-and-legislation, as it stems from an incident involving the use of homophobic language during a plenary session, which leads to discussions about parliamentary decorum and prejudice.
- The general-news headlines have reported on the politics surrounding André Janones' suspension, including the heated exchange between deputies from the PL and Avante parties, Janones' defense of his actions, and the Ethics Committee's conclusion that his behavior was incompatible with the institutional environment of the Chamber of Deputies.
