Applause for Gilmar, he deserves it this time.

It is evident that Supreme Court Justice Gilmar Mendes has already received a lot of criticism and has said and done things that have earned disapproval not only from me, but from many Brazilians.

   He prevented Lula from becoming Dilma's minister. Without explanation.

   He held secret meetings with Temer. Secret to this day.

   She cast the deciding vote, saving him from expulsion.

   His list of controversial actions and questionable statements is not small.  

   But justice must be done to him in the Sergio Cabral case.

   I want to congratulate you on your constitutional decision to prevent the deportation of the former governor to a maximum-security federal prison, which houses the most dangerous leaders of bloodthirsty gangs, by order of Judge Marcelo Bretas.

   The judge interpreted the interrogated party's statement—perhaps too petulant, perhaps too arrogant—as a threat to his integrity and that of his family. He claimed that the judge knew that jewelry is not suitable for money laundering, given that his relatives own a costume jewelry business in the Sahara.

   And he was punished with deportation to solitary confinement in Mato Grosso do Sul.

   Fortunately, Gilmar Mendes – just like me – saw no threat whatsoever in this dialogue, and therefore there is no justification for the implementation of the extreme measure by the Rio de Janeiro judge, never before used against any accused or defendant in Lava Jato and its related cases.

    Gilmar prevented the constitution from being violated, a dangerous precedent from being set – subjecting other defendants in Lava Jato to identical proceedings – and further emphasizing the stigma that all politicians are criminals, thanks to the intense bombardment in this regard by major media outlets in recent years, which is not only false but also irresponsible and, ultimately, conspires against democracy, since the regime cannot sustain itself without politicians.

   There is no point in talking about bandits in politics until there is news that their crimes were committed with the use of weapons, or that they embezzled money at gunpoint, or committed violent crimes.

   Cabral did many wrong things and should be judged with all the prerogatives to which he is entitled, but he is not and never will be Fernandinho Beira-Mar.

   Gilmar Mendes didn't say exactly that, but almost.

   Applause for him, because – this time – he deserves it.