Federal Police Report Faults a Brazilian Justice’s Conduct
Brazil · JUSTICE
Key Facts
- —What happened A Federal Police report accused Justice André Mendonça of acting as an investigator.
- —How big The document runs about 50 pages, has no letterhead, and carries no signature.
- —The catch The document is a scenario analysis, not a formal investigation report.
- —Who it hits It targets Justice Mendonça’s supervision of the Banco Master and INSS cases.
- —What comes next Mendonça has not publicly responded to the accusations.
A Federal Police intelligence report says Justice André Mendonça ran an investigation like a police chief. The report became public through a decision by Justice Alexandre de Moraes.
A Federal Police report accuses Supreme Court Justice André Mendonça of acting like an investigator, not a supervisor, in the Banco Master case. The report became public through a decision by Justice Alexandre de Moraes.
The Accusation
A Federal Police intelligence report says Justice André Mendonça ran the Banco Master probe as its head, not its supervisor.
The document has no letterhead and no signature, and was disclosed in a Justice Alexandre de Moraes decision on 3 September 2026.
The report says Mendonça ‘contemporized’ suspicions involving Justice Dias Toffoli, despite ‘serious evidentiary elements’ already sent to the Supreme Court. It also says he adopted an ‘openly defensive posture’ toward Justice Kassio Nunes Marques.
What the Report Says
The report, quoted by Valor Economico, says the rapporteur showed what it calls contemporization towards Justice Dias Toffoli.
It says this happened despite serious evidence the Federal Police had already sent to the court.
Regarding Justice Nunes Marques, the report says Mendonça suggested that media accusations could be a strategy to weaken him. This is according to Valor Econômico’s report on 3 September 2026.
Role of a Supervising Justice
In Brazil, a supervising justice, or rapporteur, oversees investigations but does not act as the lead investigator. The justice ensures the law is followed and makes decisions on requests from police and prosecutors.
The Federal Police report says Mendonça acted ‘as a police chief or even the director-general of the police’ by demanding raw data. This behavior, investigators say, goes beyond the appropriate role of a judge.
How the Report Became Public
The report was attached to proceedings handled by Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who lifted its secrecy. This decision made the document public on 3 September 2026.
It is separate from a different, 218-page Federal Police report on messages between Vorcaro and Moraes. Mendonça ordered that longer report and later unsealed it himself, on 1 September 2026.
Reactions and Responses
As of 4 September 2026, no public written response from Justice Mendonça’s office specifically addressing the accusations has been reported. The Federal Police has also not issued a formal statement defending or retracting the report.
Allies of Justice Moraes criticized Mendonça for lifting the report’s secrecy, saying it exposed a colleague to public scrutiny. This was reported by Terra on 1 September 2026.
The Report’s Nature
On 4 September 2026, O Globo reported the document is not a formal investigation report. It is a ‘scenario analysis’ about Mendonça’s conduct.
It relies on ‘intelligence information’ explicitly described as having no probative value.
This means the report does not constitute formal evidence of wrongdoing. It is an internal analysis of potential risks and patterns.
A Claim About the Senate President
The document also names Senate President Davi Alcolumbre as a ‘probable strategic target,’ citing his control over impeachment requests against justices. ND Mais reported this on 4 September 2026.
This is an unproven claim in an unsigned document, not an established fact. Alcolumbre has not directly addressed it; asked generally about the Vorcaro-Moraes messages, he said only, “I found nothing.”
Background of the Case
The case involves investigations into Banco Master and the INSS, Brazil’s social security agency. Mendonça was the rapporteur for these cases.
The Federal Police report also mentions that Mendonça ordered the identification of all persons mentioned in certain messages on Vorcaro’s phone. This order was part of the broader investigation.
Internal Police Criticism
UOL reported on 1 September 2026 that the Federal Police director-general, Andrei Rodrigues, considered Mendonça’s orders to involve ‘abuse of authority.’ This assessment was referenced in internal documents.
O Globo reported police criticism that Mendonça assumed ‘the role of investigator, which does not belong to the judge.’ This was in the Vorcaro case.
What Happens Next
Mendonça has indicated that the case should be analyzed by the full Supreme Court in a public, in-person session. The date would be set by the Court’s president, Edson Fachin.
This move has been criticized by allies of Moraes, who see it as exposing a colleague to public scrutiny. The full Court has not yet scheduled a hearing.
No Formal Response
As of 4 September 2026, no formal response from Mendonça’s office has been reported. The Federal Police has also not commented publicly on the report’s contents.
The report’s accusations remain unaddressed by the accused justice. The situation continues to develop.
The Role of the AGU
Federal Police officials accused Brazil’s attorney general’s office, the AGU, of inaction in the crisis. They said the AGU declined their request to challenge Mendonça’s orders in court.
The AGU is responsible for defending the federal government in court. It has not publicly commented.
The Report’s Authors
Poder360 and Gazeta do Povo reported that the roughly 50-page document carries no signature and no police letterhead. Its authors are not named.
Federal Police officials have not confirmed who wrote it or when. Gazeta do Povo reported on 4 September 2026 that Moraes used it despite these gaps.
The Broader Context
The report is part of a larger conflict between Mendonça and Moraes over the handling of investigations. The dispute has become public through court decisions.
The Supreme Court is now faced with the task of addressing these internal tensions. The outcome remains uncertain.
What the Report Does Not Say
The report does not establish any finding of wrongdoing. It is an analysis of Mendonça’s conduct, not a formal accusation.
The document explicitly states that its intelligence information has no probative value. This limits its legal weight.
A Separate, Longer Report
A different Federal Police report on Operation Compliance Zero runs 218 pages and is dated 27 August 2026. NC News reported on 1 September 2026 that Mendonça ordered it, giving police 72 hours.
That report covers Vorcaro‘s messages with Moraes, not the accusations against Mendonça described here. Mendonça unsealed it himself, which triggered the wider crisis.
The Police’s Stated Limits
In a formal report to Justice Mendonça, the Federal Police said they did not investigate judges or prosecutors deeper.
Their work only presented existing case evidence under judicial supervision, as Valor Econômico reported on 1 September 2026.
This statement clarifies that the police did not initiate new probes against magistrates. It also shows the police were careful to stay within their role as investigators, not accusers.
The Role of the Attorney General’s Office
Federal Police officials said the AGU, the government’s legal body, prioritized its relationship with Mendonça over challenging his orders. Brasil em Folhas reported the accusation on 2 September 2026.
The wider crisis began when Mendonça ordered police to prepare a separate report on Vorcaro’s messages. That report exposed communications involving Justice Alexandre de Moraes.
The Path to the Full Court
Justice Mendonça wrote that the case’s ‘inevitable path’ leads to analysis by the full Supreme Court in a public, in-person plenary session. O Globo reported this on 1 September 2026.
The court’s president, Edson Fachin, would set the date.
Allies of Justice Moraes criticized this move, saying it exposed a colleague to public scrutiny. The full court has 11 justices, and a public session would be open to observers, unlike closed-door deliberations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Federal Police report about?
The report accuses Justice André Mendonça of acting as an investigator rather than a supervisor in the Banco Master case. It says he soft-pedaled suspicions against some justices and defended others.
Who wrote the report?
The roughly 50-page document has no signature and no police letterhead. Federal Police officials have not said who wrote it.
How did the report become public?
Justice Alexandre de Moraes disclosed the report in a decision that lifted its secrecy. This happened on 3 September 2026.
Has Justice Mendonça responded?
As of 4 September 2026, no public written response from Mendonça’s office has been reported. The Federal Police has also not commented.
Connected Coverage
Sources: Valor Econômico; O Globo; UOL; SBT News; Poder360; Gazeta do Povo; NC News; Terra; ND Mais; Brasil em Folhas.
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