The Latest: Peru's president survives impeachment vote
Pedro Pablo Kuczynski
LIMA   Peru ( AP ) — The latest on impeachment proceedings against Peru ' s president ( all times local ): 11 : 20 p . m . Peru ' s president has survived an impeachment vote called by opposition lawmakers who sought to oust him over ties to the Brazilian construction giant implicated in the region ' s biggest corruption scandal . Peruvian lawmakers rejected removing President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski in a vote late Thursday that came after 10 hours of debate and the leader ' s own forceful defense . The 79 - year - old former Wall Street banker came under fire after an opposition - led investigative committee revealed documents showing Odebrecht made $ 782   000 in payments to Kuczynski ' s private consulting firm more than a decade ago . The payments were made during years Kuczynski served as a Peruvian government minister . Odebrecht is at the center of Latin America ' s largest corruption scandal   having attempted paying millions of dollars in bribes to win public works contracts . The president repeatedly denied any wrongdoing   telling lawmakers that the rushed impeachment process was a threat to Peru ' s democracy . ___ 11 p . m . Peruvian lawmakers have wrapped up their debate over whether  President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski  should be impeached and are expected to begin voting on the matter soon . Debate ended very late Thursday night after 10 hours of impassioned speeches by legislators decrying and defending  the president  . The 79 - year - old former Wall Street banker is fighting for his political survival after an opposition - led investigative committee revealed documents showing his private consulting firm received $ 782   000 in payments from the Brazilian construction giant at the center of Latin America ' s big corruption scandal . The decade - old payments coincided with years in which Kuczynski was a government minister . The president urged lawmakers to keep him office in a forceful defense earlier Thursday   saying he had no involvement in his firm at the time . ___ 3 : 45 p . m . Lawmakers in Peru are debating whether or not to oust  President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski  . One - by - one   supporters and opponents are making their case before a final vote to decide whether  Kuczynski  should be impeached . Opposition legislator Milagros Takayama told lawmakers that citizens deserve a Peru " that is free of corruption and ineptitude ."  Kuczynski  is under fire after an opposition - led commission revealed documents showing  his  private consulting firm received $ 782   000 in payments from the Brazilian construction giant at the center of Latin America ' s biggest corruption scandal .  Kuczynski  testified earlier Thursday in  his  defense   telling lawmakers  he  had no involvement in the firm while serving in government . ____ 11 : 45 a . m . The lawyer representing Peru ' s president is telling lawmakers that instead of impeaching Pedro Pablo Kuczynski   they should investigate him . In a two - hour speech Thursday   Alberto Borea urged lawmakers to punish the president only after determining if he is indeed guilty of a crime . Pointing to the stoic president seated beside him   Borrea said   " Don ' t crucify him before then ."  Kuczynski  is facing an impeachment vote eight days after an opposition - led investigation revealed documents showing Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht made payments to the president ' s private consulting firm . ____ 10 a . m .  Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski  says the nation ' s democracy is at risk with a pending impeachment vote that could remove  him  from office . In  his  initial remarks to lawmakers Thursday    Kuczynski  said  he  came to look them in the eye and state   " I am not corrupt and I have not lied ."  The president  is presenting a detailed account of the $ 782   000 in payments provided to  his  Westfield Capital consulting firm by Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht . Odebrecht is at the center of Latin America ' s largest corruption scandal . The payments were made over a decade ago .  Kuczynski  is being given at least two hours to state  his  case . ____ 9 : 30 a . m .  Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski  has arrived at the Andean nation ' s parliament to testify in  his  defense before lawmakers vote on whether or not  he  should be removed from office . Opposition lawmakers are intent on ousting the 79 - year - old former Wall Street banker after revelations his private consulting business received payments from Odebrecht . The Brazilian construction giant is at the center of Latin America ' s largest corruption scandal . Kuczynski has said he had no management duties at his consulting firm Westfield Capital when it received $ 782   000 in payments between 2004 and 2007 . During much of that time   he was a high - ranking government minister .
LIMA   Peru ( AP ) — The latest on impeachment proceedings against Peru ' s president ( all times local ): 11 : 20 p . m . Peru ' s president has survived an impeachment vote called by opposition lawmakers who sought to oust him over ties to the Brazilian construction giant implicated in the region ' s biggest corruption scandal . Peruvian lawmakers rejected removing [TGT] in a vote late Thursday that came after 10 hours of debate and the leader ' s own forceful defense . The 79 - year - old former Wall Street banker came under fire after an opposition - led investigative committee revealed documents showing Odebrecht made $ 782   000 in payments to Kuczynski ' s private consulting firm more than a decade ago . The payments were made during years [TGT] served as a Peruvian government minister . Odebrecht is at the center of Latin America ' s largest corruption scandal   having attempted paying millions of dollars in bribes to win public works contracts . The president repeatedly denied any wrongdoing   telling lawmakers that the rushed impeachment process was a threat to Peru ' s democracy . ___ 11 p . m . Peruvian lawmakers have wrapped up their debate over whether  [TGT]should be impeached and are expected to begin voting on the matter soon . Debate ended very late Thursday night after 10 hours of impassioned speeches by legislators decrying and defending  the president  . The 79 - year - old former Wall Street banker is fighting for his political survival after an opposition - led investigative committee revealed documents showing his private consulting firm received $ 782   000 in payments from the Brazilian construction giant at the center of Latin America ' s big corruption scandal . The decade - old payments coincided with years in which [TGT] was a government minister . The president urged lawmakers to keep him office in a forceful defense earlier Thursday   saying he had no involvement in his firm at the time . ___ 3 : 45 p . m . Lawmakers in Peru are debating whether or not to oust  President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski  . One - by - one   supporters and opponents are making their case before a final vote to decide whether  Kuczynski  should be impeached . Opposition legislator Milagros Takayama told lawmakers that citizens deserve a Peru " that is free of corruption and ineptitude ."  Kuczynski  is under fire after an opposition - led commission revealed documents showing  his  private consulting firm received $ 782   000 in payments from the Brazilian construction giant at the center of Latin America ' s biggest corruption scandal .  Kuczynski  testified earlier Thursday in  his  defense   telling lawmakers  he  had no involvement in the firm while serving in government . ____ 11 : 45 a . m . The lawyer representing Peru ' s president is telling lawmakers that instead of impeaching Pedro Pablo Kuczynski   they should investigate him . In a two - hour speech Thursday   Alberto Borea urged lawmakers to punish the president only after determining if he is indeed guilty of a crime . Pointing to the stoic president seated beside him   Borrea said   " Don ' t crucify him before then ."  Kuczynski  is facing an impeachment vote eight days after an opposition - led investigation revealed documents showing Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht made payments to the president ' s private consulting firm . ____ 10 a . m .  Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski  says the nation ' s democracy is at risk with a pending impeachment vote that could remove  him  from office . In  his  initial remarks to lawmakers Thursday    Kuczynski  said  he  came to look them in the eye and state   " I am not corrupt and I have not lied ."  The president  is presenting a detailed account of the $ 782   000 in payments provided to  his  Westfield Capital consulting firm by Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht . Odebrecht is at the center of Latin America ' s largest corruption scandal . The payments were made over a decade ago .  Kuczynski  is being given at least two hours to state  his  case . ____ 9 : 30 a . m .  Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski  has arrived at the Andean nation ' s parliament to testify in  his  defense before lawmakers vote on whether or not  he  should be removed from office . Opposition lawmakers are intent on ousting the 79 - year - old former Wall Street banker after revelations his private consulting business received payments from Odebrecht . The Brazilian construction giant is at the center of Latin America ' s largest corruption scandal . Kuczynski has said he had no management duties at his consulting firm Westfield Capital when it received $ 782   000 in payments between 2004 and 2007 . During much of that time   he was a high - ranking government minister .