Moraes breaks bank secrecy of 11 Bolsonaro-supporting parliamentarians involved in anti-democratic acts.
The decision by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered the lifting of bank secrecy for ten members of Congress and one senator, all from Jair Bolsonaro's base in Congress. This measure was taken in conjunction with Operation Lume, which carried out searches on Tuesday against 21 people linked to the government.
247 - Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered the lifting of bank secrecy for Bolsonaro-aligned congressmen allegedly involved in financing the recent and recurring anti-democratic acts that called for the closure of the Supreme Court, the National Congress, and the return of AI-5 (Institutional Act No. 5).
The minister's decision was made in conjunction with Operation Lume, which carried out searches on Tuesday. against 21 people related to the acts.
According to journalists Daniela Lima and Daniel Adjuto, from CNN, the confidentiality of ten deputies and one senator was breached: Daniel Silveira, Cabo Junio Amaral, Otoni de Paula Júnior, Caroline de Toni, Carla Zambelli, Alessanda da Silva Ribeiro, Beatriz Kicis, General Girão, Guiga Peixoto, Aline Sleutjes and Arolde de Oliveira (senator).
The lifting of bank secrecy was requested by the Attorney General's Office (PGR).
Read also the Reuters news report on the subject:
BRASILIA (Reuters) - The Federal Police are carrying out 26 search and seizure warrants this Tuesday in the investigation into the financing of anti-democratic demonstrations, and among the 21 targets are Bolsonaro supporters such as businessman Luiz Felipe Belmonte, involved in the creation of the Alliance for Brazil party, and federal deputy Daniel Silveira (PSL-RJ).
The Federal Police are also executing warrants at addresses linked to Sérgio Lima, marketing strategist for Aliança —the party that President Jair Bolsonaro is trying to create—, and to blogger Allan dos Santos, who was recently the target of another operation, this one to investigate the production and distribution of fake news.
Also among the 21 investigated are other bloggers, YouTubers, and digital influencers linked to Bolsonaro's supporters, such as Fernando Lisboa, from Vlog do Lisboa, Alberto Silva, from O Giro de Notícias, and Adilson Dini, known as Ravox Brasil, and Barbara Destefani, from the channel Te Atualizei.
Businessman Belmonte and advertising executive Lima were contacted by Reuters but did not respond to requests for comment. The others confirmed being targets of the operation on their social media accounts.
"Federal Police in my apartment. I am indeed bothering some spheres of the old power. And every day I will be firmer in this war!", wrote Congressman Daniel Silveira on his Twitter account. Shortly after, on the same social network, the congressman said that he remained silent during his testimony to the Federal Police, but stated that he will provide clarifications after having access to the investigation, which he described as "absurd and full of unconstitutionalities".
"The Federal Police are once again at the Terça Livre headquarters this Tuesday morning, the residence of journalist Allan dos Santos. According to information received, the authorities are linking the visit to the arrest of conservative activist Sara Winter," states a note on the website.
The demonstrations investigated in the inquiry, presided over by Minister Alexandre de Moraes of the Supreme Federal Court (STF), advocate for the closure of the Supreme Court and the National Congress and call for a military intervention in Brazil.
In a statement, the Attorney General's Office affirmed that "the line of investigation is that the suspects acted in concert with public officials who have the prerogative of being tried in the Supreme Federal Court to finance and promote acts that fall under practices classified as crimes by the National Security Law."
The action is a follow-up to the operation carried out on Monday, also under Moraes' command, which led to the arrest of Sara Geromini, known as Sara Winter, and five other people linked to the far-right group 300 do Brasil, which she leads.
Search and seizure operations are being carried out in the states of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Maranhão, Santa Catarina, and the Federal District, according to a statement from the Federal Police.
The investigation was opened in April, at the request of the Attorney General's Office, to investigate, under the National Security Law, the organization and financing of acts against democracy. Several of these acts involved President Jair Bolsonaro, who even gave a speech at one of the demonstrations held in front of the Army headquarters in Brasília.
The president, however, is not the target of the investigation.