Brazil Justice Used Unofficial Reports Against Bolsonaro Supporters

Brazil's Supreme Federal Tribunal (STF) Minister Alexandre de Moraes is under scrutiny following a report by the left-leaning newspaper Folha de Sao Paulo, which claims he ordered the unofficial production of reports by the Electoral Court to support his rulings against supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro. De Moraes, who has been a prominent figure in Brazil's judiciary and served as head of the Superior Electoral Tribunal (TSE), has been conducting inquiries into "fake news" and "anti-democratic digital militias" since 2019. The report reveals that Folha accessed over six gigabytes of messages exchanged among de Moraes' advisers, suggesting that requests were made for reports targeting Bolsonaro allies. Notably, the messages did not indicate that these reports were officially commissioned by de Moraes or his office. The STF minister's office responded, asserting that all investigations were conducted officially and documented with the Attorney General's Office's knowledge. In the wake of the allegations, calls for de Moraes' impeachment have intensified among Bolsonaro's supporters, who label the actions described in the report as "antidemocratic." Prominent figures, including Eduardo Bolsonaro, have publicly demanded the annulment of actions taken against his father and the impeachment of de Moraes, emphasizing the need to address what they perceive as an attack on democracy. As the political fallout continues, opposition senators are preparing to formally request de Moraes' impeachment, further escalating tensions in Brazil's already polarized political landscape.