Politics · Brazil · 2 hrs ago
Brazil prosecutors oppose abuse-of-authority probe of Supreme Court justice
Brazil’s top federal prosecutors oppose an investigation into Supreme Court Justice André Mendonça for alleged abuse of authority.
The request came from fellow justice Alexandre de Moraes, who accused Mendonça of steering investigations and favoring certain political groups.
The dispute involves investigations linked to Banco Master and Brazil’s social security agency, as well as a separate inquiry into alleged disinformation.
Prosecutors say Mendonça’s actions may show bias and depart from the neutrality expected of a judge overseeing police investigations.
But they said the material reviewed does not show conduct that amounts to the crime of abuse of authority.
The prosecutors sent their position to Supreme Court president Edson Fachin, and the case is under seal.
They also said the Senate handles allegations of crimes of responsibility, while administrative-improbity cases do not require advance Supreme Court approval.
Brazil’s Prosecutor General’s Office opposed opening an abuse-of-authority investigation into Supreme Court Justice André Mendonça, requested by Justice Alexandre de Moraes.
The office said actions attributed to Mendonça could be criticised but did not appear to amount to an offence under the Abuse of Authority Law.
It also said the report underpinning Moraes’s request did not establish grounds for an investigation.
The opinion noted alleged bias and departures from judicial neutrality in the reports it reviewed.
The case is being handled confidentially by the Supreme Court.
- Who
- The Prosecutor General’s Office opposed a request by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes to investigate Justice André Mendonça.
- What
- The office said the alleged conduct did not appear to constitute abuse of authority and found no basis to open a proceeding.
- When
- The opinion was sent to Supreme Court President Edson Fachin on Saturday, October 17; the reports were published on October 19, 2026.
- Where
- Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court.
- Why
- The office said the materials did not show conduct punishable under the Abuse of Authority Law; UOL reported that the supporting report did not constitute proof.
Alexandre de Moraes
Prosecutor General’s Office
Basis for an investigation
Alexandre de Moraes
Moraes alleged Mendonça directed investigations and targets for personal and political reasons, compromising judicial impartiality.
Prosecutor General’s Office
The office said the request did not demonstrate conduct punishable under the Abuse of Authority Law, and that its supporting report did not constitute proof.
Moraes signed a request in the fake news inquiry for Mendonça to answer an abuse-of-authority allegation.
The Prosecutor General’s Office said there was no evidence that Mendonça had been targeted by an investigation by the leadership.
The Prosecutor General’s Office sent its opinion opposing the opening of an investigation to Supreme Court President Edson Fachin.
Folha and UOL published reports on the Prosecutor General’s Office opinion.
- Justice who requested probe
- Alexandre de Moraes
- Justice facing allegation
- André Mendonça
- Opinion sent to
- Supreme Court President Edson Fachin
- Opinion sent on
- Saturday, October 17
- Law considered
- Law No. 13,869/2019, the Abuse of Authority Law
- Case status
- Confidential before the Supreme Court
2 sources
What people are saying
The reports suggest that the investigations were directed with biases inconsistent with the neutrality of the magistrate responsible for supervising police procedures. The representation, however, does not appear to demonstrate that the conduct can be classified as an act punishable under any provision of Law No. 13,869/2019, the Abuse of Authority Law, which is the matter to be examined at this time.
with a breach of judicial impartiality and favouritism toward certain political groups
based on internal Federal Police reports that were unfit for the purpose for which they were used