With rising political tension, institutional deadlock, and regular Federal Police operations making the headlines, today’s Brazil is reminiscent of 2015. Just like five years ago, when Operation Car Wash began exposing the ins and outs of corruption at the federal level, this battle between political stakeholders will have no death blow in store for either side. Instead, it is a war of attrition, as opposing forces slowly wear each other down.
But things were taken up a notch on Wednesday morning, as the Supreme Court launched an operation to crack down on an alleged fake news ring operating to benefit far-right President Jair Bolsonaro — possibly under his administration’s auspices.
Federal marshals paid a visit to bloggers, digital influences, and businessmen — seizing computers and cell phones that could prove their connection to an underground misinformation structure operating to further radicalize Brazil’s already toxic political environment. Moreover, eight members of Congress with close ties to the president will be questioned.
Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who presides over the probe, also ordered the disclosure of the tax and banking records of all 17 suspects for the period between July 2018 and April 2020 — which encompasses the 2018 campaign and the first 16 months of the Bolsonaro administration.
The move set off alarms within the Bolsonaro administration, as it could uncover damaging evidence against his 2018 campaign with the potential of costing him his office.
As we explained on May 23, there are two lawsuits pending against Mr. Bolsonaro in the...
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