Rio electoral court bars PT state lawmaker from running over alleged organized-crime ties

Rio de Janeiro’s regional electoral court denied the candidacy registration of state lawmaker Renato Machado of the Workers’ Party, citing alleged ties to organized crime. Machado faces two criminal proceedings linked to his time as public works secretary in Maricá, and complaints against him emerged from an investigation into an alleged connection with a narco-militia operating in the municipality.

His defense said Machado had been removed from the case in which he was accused of ordering the murder of a journalist. The lawyers argued that the other proceedings concerned his conduct as secretary and contained no allegations of association with criminal organizations. “There is no evidence regarding Renato,” attorney Paulo Henrique Fagundes said, warning that the electoral court should treat the indications with particular care.

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There is no evidence regarding Renato. The electoral court is now judging based on indications that require great care from the electoral judiciary

The Regional Electoral Prosecutor’s Office challenged Machado’s candidacy because of the complaints linking him to the Maricá group. One investigation led to the accusation that he ordered the journalist’s killing, but a court later ruled that there were insufficient indications to send him to a jury trial.

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Because of the principle of independence between jurisdictions, the decision not to send him to trial does not mean that the fact or authorship did not exist

Judge Bruno Bodart, the case rapporteur, said the electoral courts could assess the evidence independently. “Because of the principle of independence between jurisdictions, the decision not to send him to trial does not mean that the fact or authorship did not exist,” he said. Bodart added that the case files showed “very strong elements” linking Machado to homicides.

He said the combined proceedings and investigations demonstrated a relationship with the Terceiro Comando Puro faction, including both its armed wing and its alleged political presence in Maricá’s administration and Machado’s candidacy.

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There are very strong elements linking Renato Machado to the homicides

In the same session, the court rejected the candidacy of Diego Alba of the Brazilian Social Democracy Party on similar grounds. Alba had a final conviction for an armed gang offense involving bank-exit robberies and had also faced other charges, in which he was acquitted. His defense said the conviction concerned a past crime for which he had already served his sentence and should not suspend his candidacy.

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The final conviction for an armed gang offense, the evidence showing structured activity in a criminal organization, subsequent prosecution for serious property crimes, and investigations linking the challenged candidate and his company to fraud and criminal association reveal a consistent history of involvement with criminal organizations