Brazil Supreme Court cancels second session amid justice corruption feud
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
Brazil's Supreme Court cancelled a second consecutive day of deliberations on Thursday as a corruption scandal involving Justice Alexandre de Moraes deepened. Chief Justice Luiz Edson Fachin called for the court to reconvene on Tuesday, when 10 justices will discuss whether de Moraes should be investigated over text messages from a disgraced banker. The crisis has drawn calls for probes from both presidential candidates, Lula and Senator Flavio Bolsonaro.
Key Facts
- Chief Justice Luiz Edson Fachin cancelled Thursday's session, the second consecutive day of cancellations, and scheduled the next session for Tuesday.
- Justice Andre Mendonca unsealed federal police documents on September 1 containing roughly 30 text messages allegedly sent to a phone number associated with Justice Alexandre de Moraes by banker Daniel Vorcaro.
- Vorcaro, head of Banco Master, was arrested in November 2025 on accusations of defrauding investors, and the bank's collapse left more than $7 billion in debt.
- Both President Lula and Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the two main presidential candidates for October's election, have called for investigations into Supreme Court justices.
Court Cancellations
Brazil's Supreme Court cancelled a second straight day of deliberations on Thursday, a rare occurrence at the high court. Chief Justice Luiz Edson Fachin nixed the session and called for the court to reconvene on Tuesday instead. The decision was spurred by an ongoing crisis among the court's members that emerged on September 1.
Justice Feud
Justice Andre Mendonca, a Bolsonaro appointee, unsealed federal police documents that appeared to show disgraced banker Daniel Vorcaro seeking advice from Justice Alexandre de Moraes. The documents contain roughly 30 text messages sent to a phone number associated with de Moraes, allegedly from Vorcaro. De Moraes accused Mendonca of abusing his authority for political gains and requested a probe into whether Mendonca interviewed Vorcaro without police or prosecutors present. Tuesday's session will involve the full bench, with 10 justices discussing whether de Moraes should be investigated over the text messages.
Banco Master Scandal
The tit-for-tat on the high court is the latest fallout from the Banco Master corruption scandal. Vorcaro, head of Banco Master, was arrested in November 2025 on accusations he defrauded investors of billions in lost funds. The collapse of Banco Master's private banking arm left behind more than $7 billion in debt. Lawmakers from across the political spectrum have become embroiled in the unfolding scandal, and the turmoil risks affecting October's general elections. Both Lula and Senator Flavio Bolsonaro have called for investigations into the Supreme Court justices, and the Bolsonaro family itself has been dragged into the scandal.
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