São Paulo – Brazil’s Supreme Court entered a new phase of internal turmoil on Friday as its two most prominent justices, Alexandre de Moraes and André Mendonça, each called for major disciplinary action against the other.
Background on the rival justices
Justice Alexandre de Moraes, 57, became a household name after leading the case that placed former President Jair Bolsonaro in prison for an attempted coup. His colleague, André Mendonça, 53, is the court’s first evangelical member, appointed by Bolsonaro.
Bank fraud investigation fuels the feud
The animosity stems from a sprawling federal police investigation into financial fraud surrounding the collapsed Banco Master and its disgraced owner, Daniel Vorcaro. The probe has also entangled several politicians as Brazil heads toward its October elections.
Mendonça has asked that de Moraes be suspended while the court decides whether de Moraes should face a graft investigation. In response, de Moraes wants Mendonça investigated by the court and potentially impeached by the Senate for conducting an unauthorized inquiry into him.
New evidence intensifies scrutiny
Earlier this week, Mendonça unsealed part of the investigation, revealing dozens of intercepted messages from Vorcaro in which the banker sought advice from de Moraes. Federal police also discovered that de Moraes’ wife provided legal services to Banco Master under a 130‑million‑real (about $25 million) contract, prompting calls for de Moraes to resign.
“I am grateful to you for my life,” Vorcaro wrote in one message. “For the love of God, see if you can block all these evil measures against Banco Master,” he added in another.
Political figures weigh in
Presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro, also implicated in the scandal for allegedly receiving about $21 million to fund a film about his father, urged de Moraes to step down.
Media reports later showed that Mendonça had privately met with Vorcaro last year and confirmed a more recent meeting this month, during which he questioned the jailed banker without the full court’s authorization or the presence of federal police agents.
Escalating actions in the court
De Moraes responded by asking Chief Justice Luiz Edson Fachin to investigate Mendonça’s conduct, labeling it politically driven and alleging an impeachable offense. The Senate, which holds the power to impeach Supreme Court justices, already has dozens of impeachment requests against de Moraes and only a few against Mendonça.
Mendonça, in turn, asked Fachin to suspend de Moraes. Fachin said he will seek clarifications from both justices, Attorney General Paulo Gonet, and federal police director André Rodrigues.
President Lula’s stance
At a ceremony in the presidential palace, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva emphasized that no one should be exempt from investigations, urging the institutions of the Republic to be preserved during this tense period.
The two justices did not exchange words during recent court sessions, but they are slated to meet again next week as the investigation continues to unfold.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
