Brazil Supreme Court Justice Authorizes Probe Into Lula's Son

A Brazilian Supreme Court justice has authorized a police investigation into Fábio Luís Lula da Silva, the son of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The decision was made by Justice André Mendonça, according to a judicial source who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The investigation reportedly centers on suspicions that "Lulinha," as the president's son is known, may have acted to benefit a lobbyist in dealings with the Ministry of Health concerning the sale of medicinal cannabis. The lobbyist, an imprisoned businessman, is allegedly a key figure in a multi-million dollar fraud scheme targeting retirees and pensioners.

This probe emerges just days before President Lula is officially nominated as the Workers' Party candidate for the upcoming October elections. The scandal has already led to the dismissal of the Minister of Social Security and the president of the National Social Security Institute under Lula's government.

President Lula, when asked about the investigation, stated during a podcast interview, "If they accuse my son of something, he will receive the same treatment as any other son. He will not have privileges. I would never ask a police officer or a judge not to do the right thing." This is not the first time "Lulinha" has faced scrutiny; in February, a congressional commission authorized an inquiry into his bank accounts over suspicions of acting as a "hidden partner" in ventures allegedly funded by diverted money from the same scheme.

Lula, who himself was convicted in 2018 for a corruption scandal before his conviction was annulled, will be officially proclaimed his party's candidate on Sunday. The 80-year-old president is set to face Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, in the October elections.

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If they accuse my son of something, he will receive the same treatment as any other son. He will not have privileges. I would never ask a police officer or a judge not to do the right thing.