Brazil’s Supreme Court postpones sittings amid Banco Master dispute
The court is due to consider whether Justice Alexandre de Moraes should face an investigation over alleged messages linked to banker Daniel Vorcaro.
Brazil’s Supreme Court has cancelled deliberations for a second consecutive day as allegations of corruption, political bias and police interference deepen divisions among its members.
Chief Justice Luiz Edson Fachin cancelled Thursday’s sitting and called for the court to reconvene on Tuesday. The cancellations are unusual for the high court and come amid a dispute over documents released by Justice Andre Mendonca.
According to Al Jazeera, the documents contain about 30 messages allegedly sent by Banco Master chief Daniel Vorcaro to a number associated with Justice Alexandre de Moraes. The supplied material does not establish the authenticity or content of the messages.
Ten justices are expected to consider whether de Moraes, the court’s 11th member, should be investigated. De Moraes has accused Mendonca, a Bolsonaro appointee, of using his authority for political purposes and sought a probe into whether Mendonca interviewed Vorcaro without police or prosecutors present.
Vorcaro was arrested in November 2025 over alleged investor fraud, after the reported collapse of Banco Master’s private banking arm left more than $7 billion in debt. Police reportedly carried out dozens of raids linked to the scandal on Thursday, including searches involving film producer Karina Gama and Congressman Mario Frias.
The dispute is unfolding ahead of Brazil’s October general elections. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Senator Flavio Bolsonaro have both called for investigations into Supreme Court justices, while Bolsonaro has described the probes as attempted political interference. No wrongdoing by any justice has been established.
