Dino authorizes confrontation between Lira and congressman from União Brasil.
Supreme Court Justice orders investigation into contradictions regarding amendments to the former secret budget in an inquiry that is being conducted under seal.
247 - Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Flávio Dino authorized the Federal Police to collect testimonies and conduct a confrontation between former Speaker of the House of Representatives Arthur Lira (PP-AL) and Representative José Rocha (União Brasil-BA). The measure aims to clarify contradictions related to the allocation of amendments to the former secret budget.
The decision, initially revealed by g1The decision was made on the 19th and is part of an inquiry investigating possible irregularities in the allocation of these amendments, a mechanism later declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Federal Court. The proceedings are confidential.
This will be the first time Arthur Lira will testify to the Federal Police in this investigation. The hearings are part of the same investigation that resulted in the launch of Operation Transparency last December, which targeted Lira's former advisor in the Presidency of the Chamber of Deputies, Mariangela Fialek, known as Tuca. She was subjected to search and seizure warrants at her former office and residence.
During the operation, the Federal Police seized cell phones, a computer, and notes belonging to the former employee. The material is still being analyzed by investigators.
According to reporting by g1, Flávio Dino authorized the confrontation after the Chamber of Deputies' legal counsel filed a petition with the Supreme Court on December 17th, stating that the search and seizure carried out at the Legislative House was based on false information.
According to the Chamber's lawyers, this information was allegedly provided by Congressman José Rocha, one of the parliamentarians questioned by the Federal Police in the investigation, who identified Mariangela Fialek as "the main person responsible for the operation of the so-called 'secret budget'."
In addition to Rocha, the following deputies also testified: Glauber Braga (PSOL-RJ), Adriana Ventura (Novo-SP), Fernando Marangoni (União-SP), and Dr. Francisco (PT-PI), as well as Senator Cleitinho Azevedo (Republicanos-MG).
In the petition sent to the Supreme Federal Court (STF), the Chamber's legal counsel argued that José Rocha had engaged in irregular conduct when allocating amendments in 2024, when he chaired the National Integration and Regional Development Committee. According to the statement, he made a large number of allocations without coordinating with party leaders.
The Chamber's legal counsel also stated that Rocha withdrew amendments earmarked for Alagoas that, although attributed solely to Lira, would serve the interests of several state representatives, according to prior agreements.
Faced with the exchange of accusations, Flávio Dino ordered the Federal Police to investigate the facts and interrogate those involved, including conducting a confrontation.
The investigation that resulted in Operation Transparency indicated that Mariangela Fialek exercised "control over the diverted allocation of funds from the secret budget," as recorded by Dino. The Attorney General's Office assessed that the Federal Police's report was "supported by significant elements," suggesting illicit activity by the former advisor. At the time, Tuca's lawyer, Maria Claudia Bucchianeri Pinheiro, stated that the employee's actions were "strictly technical, non-partisan, and impartial."