Mendonça Has the Votes to Keep Brazil’s Federal Police Chief Suspended

André Mendonça appears to have enough support to keep Brazil’s Federal Police director-general, Andrei Rodrigues, away from his post. The Supreme Federal Court’s Second Panel is scheduled to review the decision in a virtual session on Tuesday, from 10 a.m. until 11:59 p.m.

The five-member panel is expected to back Mendonça with votes from Luiz Fux and Kassio Nunes Marques. Gilmar Mendes is expected to oppose him forcefully, but the article says he will likely be isolated. Dias Toffoli also sits on the panel, though he has said he will not take part in cases arising from the Banco Master investigation.

Mendonça suspended Rodrigues after intelligence reports indicated that the justice “showed an interest in opening a formal investigation” into Banco Master and the INSS scandal. Alexandre de Moraes used the document to seek an investigation of Mendonça in the fake-news inquiry.

The dispute has deepened tensions within the STF. The report has become part of a broader clash over investigations involving the court, the Federal Police and Banco Master. Other related developments include a request by Prosecutor General Paulo Gonet to archive an investigation into Moraes and allegations by Mendonça that the Federal Police produced unusual surveillance reports.

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showed an interest in opening a formal investigation