Brazilian federal deputy Carla Zambelli, on leave from the lower house and currently in Italy, has filed her formal defence with the Chamber of Deputies’ Constitution and Justice Commission in the case that could strip her of her seat. The document, delivered on 2 July, asks the commission to hear five witnesses, among them hacker Walter Delgatti Neto, who was convicted alongside her for breaking into the National Justice Council’s computer system and inserting false documents. Zambelli was sentenced by the Supreme Federal Court in May to ten years in prison, loss of office and a fine. The conviction has already reached final judgement, triggering the Chamber’s internal procedure that starts in the CCJ and ends with a simple-majority vote in the full chamber; at least 257 lawmakers must back the penalty for it to take effect. While the CCJ prepares to name a rapporteur and schedule hearings, Zambelli’s party has begun to mobilise against her ouster. PL floor leader Sóstenes Cavalcante said the caucus will formally close ranks to vote against the cassation, acting on instructions from party president Valdemar Costa Neto and, according to Cavalcante, in coordination with former president Jair Bolsonaro. The committee aims to decide the case before the congressional recess on 17 July.