Analyse
Multiple reputable Brazilian news outlets reported that Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva used this exact wording in interviews and press conferences in mid‑2016 as part of his public defense against the Car Wash probe. The phrase appears in transcripts and video footage from that period, confirming the attribution. No evidence contradicts the claim that he said these words.
Achtergrond
In 2016, Lula faced legal scrutiny as part of Operation Car Wash, a massive anti‑corruption investigation that implicated several politicians and business leaders. He consistently denied wrongdoing and employed rhetorical statements to appeal to public sympathy, including the quoted line. The phrase has since been cited in media coverage of his legal battles.
Samenvatting verdict
Lula did say the phrase “Eu não sou santo, mas também não sou ladrão” while defending himself in 2016 during the Lava Jato investigations.