Brazilian Supreme Court justices at odds as election and probe into failed bank loom

Brazil's Supreme Court is experiencing a growing rift between its two most prominent justices, Justice Alexandre de Moraes and Andre Mendonca, according to reports. The tension between the justices has escalated over a federal investigation into financial fraud linked to Banco Master and its former owner, Daniel Vorcaro. Mendonca, who is an evangelical and was appointed by former President Jair Bolsonaro, has requested the suspension of de Moraes amid concerns about his potential involvement in an unauthorized graft case.

De Moraes, on the other hand, is demanding that Mendonca be investigated and possibly impeached by the Senate for conducting an unauthorized proceeding. A recently unsealed part of the federal police investigation revealed dozens of intercepted messages between Vorcaro and de Moraes, indicating that the banker often sought advice from the Justice.

The new findings have fueled suspicions about de Moraes, especially after it was discovered that his wife provided legal services to Banco Master through a 130 million reais ($25 million) contract. The revelations have sparked a wave of pressure from politicians, the media, and legal experts for de Moraes to resign.