Brazil Federal Police open inquiry into possible US election interference

October 5, 2026 at 02:41 AM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Brazil's Federal Police opened a preliminary inquiry into possible US interference in the country's presidential election after the solicitor general's office cited a report that the US State Department earmarked $1 million for groups critical of Brazil's Supreme Court. Police chief Andrei Rodrigues said the matter was referred to the intelligence directorate on October 1, but no formal investigation order has been issued. The inquiry began as Brazilians voted in the first round on October 4, with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva facing Senator Flávio Bolsonaro.

Key Facts

Brazil's Federal Police opened a preliminary inquiry into possible US interference in the October 4 presidential election.
The inquiry followed a Guardian report that the US State Department earmarked $1 million for groups critical of Brazil's Supreme Court.
Police chief Andrei Rodrigues said the matter was referred to the intelligence directorate on October 1, but no formal investigation order has been issued.
Supreme Electoral Court President Kassio Nunes Marques said on October 4 that no concrete signs of foreign interference had been detected.
President Lula da Silva said on September 21 that he had asked US President Donald Trump not to interfere in the vote.

The Inquiry

Federal Police chief Andrei Rodrigues announced the preliminary inquiry at the national command center in Brasília. The case was referred to the police intelligence directorate after a request from the Solicitor General's Office (AGU) on October 1. Rodrigues said the procedure is investigative but that an order formally opening a police investigation has not yet been published. The AGU also asked the Prosecutor General's Office to examine the matter.

The Guardian Report

The Guardian reported that the US State Department earmarked $1 million from its human rights and democracy fund for a program titled 'Countering the Use of Justice for Political Purposes and Censorship in Brazil.' The funds were intended for civil society groups opposing what the program describes as judicial overreach and censorship by Brazil's Supreme Federal Court. It is not known whether the money was actually transferred or only allocated for these projects. The AGU said receiving foreign funds for systematic attacks on national sovereignty and Brazilian institutions could indicate external interference.

Election Context

Brazilians voted in the first round of the presidential election on October 4. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of the Workers' Party faces Senator Flávio Bolsonaro of the Liberal Party, son of former president Jair Bolsonaro. A candidate needs more than half of valid votes to win in the first round. Lula said on September 21 that he had asked US President Donald Trump not to interfere in the vote. He also mentioned signs of possible interference using artificial intelligence but gave no concrete examples.