Brazil’s Supreme Court shuts down early as political chaos mounts

Key Points:

• Brazil’s Supreme Court cancelled a second consecutive day of deliberations amid allegations of corruption, political bias, and police interference involving some of its justices, with sessions now postponed until Tuesday.
• The crisis began after Justice Andre Mendonca, a Bolsonaro appointee, unsealed federal police documents showing text messages between disgraced banker Daniel Vorcaro and Justice Alexandre de Moraes, prompting accusations of abuse of authority and calls for investigations.
• The turmoil is linked to the Banco Master corruption scandal, in which Vorcaro was arrested for defrauding investors of billions, and has implicated politicians across the spectrum, including Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, who is accused of seeking funds from Vorcaro for a film about his father.
• The scandal and court conflicts risk influencing Brazil’s upcoming October general elections, with both President Lula and Senator Bolsonaro demanding probes into Supreme Court justices amid heightened political tensions.
• Recent police raids targeted individuals connected to the film financed by Vorcaro-linked funds, while Senator Bolsonaro condemned the investigations as politically motivated interference ahead of the presidential race.