Valdemar Costa Neto

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Valdemar Costa Neto is a Brazilian politician.

He was a congressman for the Liberal Party but resigned on August 1, 2005 because of accusations related to the mensalão scandal.

He was the husband of Maria Christina Mendes Caldeira, from whom he separated in a violent divorce. His ex-wife remained in his mansion (supposively rented with money from the party) and refused to leave. To expel her, Valdemar tried to cut the water and electricity in an episode that was widely noted by the press.

One year later, his ex-wife testified against him in Congress and on national television in the mensalão scandal, accusing him of receiving bribes, of having spurious relations with Delúbio Soares, and of having bought the "tiny" party, the PMN.

She also claimed that he had wasted 500,000 reals in only one night in a casino in Punta del Este. She also alleged that he had hid large amounts of dollars in the house. Valdemar denied all of the allegation of his ex-wife.

In his testimony in front of the Investigation Panel, Valdemar made numerous allegations of corruption against the government and confessed to receiving money from Delúbio Soares for his party the PL. He alleged that the funds were to finance the political campaign for the second round of Presidential elections, a version that the questioners found implausible.

Valdemar was also the initiator of the process that resulted in the recommedation to expel and later the expulsion of the deputy Roberto Jefferson.