We’re covering the Fake News Probe: the latest Supreme Court charge against the Bolsonaro camp — and its legal issues. Worrisome employment numbers. And the flight of foreign capital from Brazil.
Questions asked about Supreme Court fake news sting
On Wednesday, federal marshals carried out a series of search and seizure warrants against bloggers, far-right activists, a comedian, and businessmen suspected of taking part in an illegal fake-news-spreading operation. Six members of Congress will also be questioned in the case. The police action came as part of a March 2019 investigation opened by the Supreme Court into the spreading of fake news and threats against its members.
- Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who presides over the probe, ordered the disclosure of the tax and banking records of all 17 suspects for the period between July 2018 and April 2020.
Why it matters. The scope of the investigation encompasses the 2018 election campaign and the suspicion that some of the suspects targeted this week had operated an illegal scheme to send millions of messages to voters, attacking Jair Bolsonaro’s rivals. If a link between the Bolsonaro campaign and this scheme is found, it would be grounds for voiding the election,...