AI Generated Image
Brazil Supreme Court removes federal police chief, Lula appeals the decision
apnews.com • • world
Key Points:
- Brazilian Supreme Court Justice André Mendonca removed the federal police Director-General Andrei Rodrigues and intelligence chief Leandro Almada, citing allegations of producing illegal reports on the court's activities.
- The decision sparked a legal challenge from President Lula's government, which argued that Mendonca lacks jurisdiction over federal police leadership and warned the removal disrupts police operations.
- The move intensifies a power struggle within the Supreme Court, particularly between Mendonca and Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who faces scrutiny over alleged conflicts of interest linked to Banco Master.
- Eleven federal police directors offered their resignations in protest, defending Rodrigues and Almada and rejecting Mendonca's accusations as politically motivated.
- The controversy unfolds ahead of Brazil’s October elections, with opposition candidate Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro endorsing Mendonca’s actions and calling for de Moraes’ removal.
