Politics · Brazil · 2 hrs ago
Brazil's top court returns INSS case to Mendonça, keeps Master inquiry
Brazil's Supreme Federal Court president, Edson Fachin returned the INSS investigations to Justice André Mendonça on Thursday.
He kept the Master case under the court presidency, where he had taken it in September.
The cases had been moved amid a public dispute between justices, and Mendonça had been unable to issue new decisions.
Fachin also had not acted, leaving requests from suspects and their lawyers stalled, including requests for release and the return of assets.
The uncertainty raised concerns about delays to investigations and police requests.
Mendonça will again handle the INSS case, while the Master case remains with the court presidency; no further decision on the Master case was announced.
Brazil Supreme Court president Edson Fachin returned the INSS investigations to Justice André Mendonça.
Fachin kept the Banco Master investigation under the court presidency for up to 90 days.
He said there was not yet concrete grounds to keep the INSS case under his control.
The Master procedures will remain there while references to Supreme Court members are clarified and the court considers who should lead the investigations.
The transfer ends at least part of a stalemate that had halted decisions on requests and investigative measures.
- Who
- Supreme Court president Edson Fachin and Justice André Mendonça.
- What
- Fachin returned the INSS investigations to Mendonça but kept the Banco Master procedures under the court presidency.
- When
- Thursday, October 29, 2026.
- Where
- Brazil's Supreme Federal Court.
- Why
- Fachin said there were no concrete grounds to keep the INSS case under the presidency, while the Master case requires clarification of references to court members and the court's investigative authority.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Fachin ordered the cases sent to the Supreme Court presidency amid an internal crisis at the court.
Mendonça sent Fachin a letter asking whether he would return the Master and INSS cases or keep them under the presidency.
Fachin returned the INSS investigations to Mendonça and kept the Master procedures under the presidency for up to 90 days.
- INSS case
- Returned to Justice André Mendonça
- Banco Master case
- Kept under the Supreme Court presidency
- Master procedures
- Up to 90 days under the presidency
- Decision date
- October 29, 2026
- INSS investigation
- Operation Sem Desconto
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What people are saying
Essa conclusão não importa afirmação definitiva acerca da inexistência de conexão processual, tampouco antecipa qualquer juízo sobre os fatos investigados ou sobre as pessoas eventualmente envolvidas. Significa, apenas, que a permanência de procedimentos investigatórios na Presidência exige fundamento concreto e atual, cuja demonstração não se verifica, por ora, em relação às investigações referentes à denominada 'Operação Sem Desconto'