Brazil Supreme Court rift deepens as justice suspends federal police chief
Allegations of misconduct between two justices threaten to pull court into political battles ahead of upcoming election.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Andre Mendonca has ordered the suspension of federal police chief Andrei Rodrigues and the force’s intelligence chief Leandro Almada amid growing divisions that have tested the credibility of the country’s highest court.
The suspensions were announced on Tuesday. Mendonca, appointed by former right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro, has accused Rodrigues and Almada of producing six illegal reports on the activities of justices.
But it is likely to be challenged by the government, possibly pulling the administration of leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva into a political battle ahead of October’s presidential election.
A report detailing possible links between de Moraes and disgraced banker Daniel Vorcaro was made public by Mendonca last week.