Supreme Court Investigation Dispute
Brazil Supreme Court Weighs Contentious Investigation Involving Justice Alexandre de Moraes
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Key Points
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Banco Master was shut down by Brazil’s central bank in November 2025 after police characterized its business structure as a pyramid scheme. Its owner, Daniel Vorcaro, was arrested at an airport while allegedly attempting to leave for Malta and is being held at Brasília’s Papuda prison complex.
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Justice Kassio Nunes Marques recused himself after messages naming his son emerged. The messages concerned a proposed R$500,000 monthly payment, while a small tax consultancy linked to the matter received R$6.6 million from Banco Master in 2024 and 2025; Nunes Marques’s son said he personally received R$281,600 for unrelated tax advice.
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Chief Justice Edson Fachin assumed control of the relevant petition on September 12, arguing that the proceedings could raise the question of Moraes’s recusal. He later rejected Moraes’s request to merge the matter with Petition 16,704, which is scheduled separately for September 23.
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Justice Cristiano Zanin requested the full extraction from Vorcaro’s phone, and Justice Gilmar Mendes backed that request while also asking Fachin to remove Mendonça as rapporteur. Mendonça responded that the defense already had full access and that broader disclosure could jeopardize an ongoing investigation.
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Fachin temporarily removed Moraes from the fake-news inquiry he had led and ordered the Federal Police to explain within 24 hours how the original phone data had been stored. Police told the court that the data remained intact.
Brazil's Supreme Court adjourned a highly charged session without ruling on whether to open a criminal investigation into Justice Alexandre de Moraes, one of the nation's most powerful judges. Rio Times Online reported that Justice Flávio Dino requested additional time to review the case, potentially delaying any decision by up to 90 days. The dispute centers on evidence from a collapsed bank's owner suggesting Moraes received payments and sought his advice on financial matters.
The case has ignited fierce tensions within the court and across Brazil's political landscape. Fox 26 Medford noted the justices engaged in a heated debate over how to handle the probe into Moraes, who faces accusations of ties to jailed banker Daniel Vorcaro. The timing intensifies pressure ahead of October's presidential election, with Bolsonaro supporters protesting outside the court building.
The Banco Master Collapse and Evidence Trail
Banco Master shut down in November 2025 after Brazil's central bank deemed it a pyramid scheme. Police arrested owner Daniel Vorcaro at an airport as he allegedly tried to flee to Malta. He now sits in Brasília's Papuda prison. Evidence extracted from his phone showed he sought advice from Moraes and that the bank paid approximately 130 million reais to a law firm linked to Moraes' wife.
A Justice Recuses Himself Over Hidden Payments
Justice Kassio Nunes Marques withdrew from the case after messages naming his son emerged. The messages referenced a proposed 500,000 reais monthly payment. A small tax consultancy tied to the matter received 6.6 million reais from Banco Master across 2024 and 2025. Nunes Marques's son stated he personally received 281,600 reais for unrelated tax advice, but the connections raised enough concern to force his recusal.
Judges Clash Over Phone Evidence and Procedure
Justice Cristiano Zanin demanded the full extraction of data from Vorcaro's phone. Justice Gilmar Mendes backed that demand and asked Chief Justice Edson Fachin to remove Justice André Mendonça as the case's lead judge. Mendonça countered that the defense already had full access and that broader disclosure could harm an ongoing investigation. The disagreement signals deep division over evidence handling and judicial impartiality.
Moraes Denies Wrongdoing as Political Pressure Mounts
Moraes denies all allegations and calls them a personal vendetta by Justice André Mendonça. Chief Justice Fachin temporarily removed him from his leadership of Brazil's fake-news inquiry and ordered the Federal Police to explain how the original phone data was stored. Police confirmed the data remained intact. Fachin also rejected Moraes's request to merge the matter with a separately scheduled petition, keeping the investigations separate.
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