Peru's president faces 2nd impeachment attempt in 8 months

Peru’s embattled president  has defended himself before Congress as he faces the possibility of joining the South American nation’s list of impeached leaders only eight months into his term

LIMA, Peru -- Pedro Castillo, Peru’s embattled president, defended himself before Congress on Monday as he faced the possibility of joining the South American nation’s list of impeached leaders only eight months into his term.

Castillo, a political neophyte who shook the country when he defeated the political elite to become president, characterized the accusations against him as speculation and argued that none can be substantiated. This is the second time that lawmakers have attempted to cut Castillo’s term short.

“We only found comments without any corroboration, speculation, imaginary links,” Castillo said of the accusations while reading a speech before lawmakers.

The lawmakers seeking to remove Castillo note he is the subject of three preliminary investigations into possible corruption, which under Peruvian law cannot proceed until he is out of office. There is also a separate accusation from a would-be collaborator who alleged he is part of a criminal group that receives money in exchange for public works.