Artists, prosecutors, and judges hold rally in support of Marcelo Bretas.

Vladimir Platonow - Reporter for Agência Brasil

Judge Marcelo Bretas, of the 7th Federal Criminal Court of Rio de Janeiro, responsible for the Lava Jato Operation cases in the state, received support from judges, prosecutors, politicians and artists at an event held this Thursday (24) in the capital. Bretas was recently mocked by Supreme Federal Court (STF) minister Gilmar Mendes, after ordering the arrest of bus company owner Jacob Barata Filho, who had already been released after a habeas corpus granted by Mendes.

At the time, the minister said that "it wasn't the tail wagging the dog, but the dog wagging the tail," alluding to Bretas being in a lower legal instance than the Supreme Federal Court (STF). The phrase provoked reactions in various sectors of society, especially in the Judiciary. The case gained more repercussion because Gilmar Mendes was the godfather at Barata's daughter's wedding in 2013, which led the Attorney General of the Republic, Rodrigo Janot, to submit a request for recusal in the case. Despite the controversy, Mendes said he has no personal relationship with Jacob Barata and defended that there are no reasons that prevent him from judging the case.

The president of the Brazilian Association of Federal Judges (Ajufe), Roberto Veloso, said that the act was not only in support of Bretas, but also of the ongoing investigations in the country, especially Operation Lava Jato.

“We are seeing that there is an orchestration against Lava Jato. It's not just this type of aggression against federal judge Marcelo Bretas, but a series of other measures being taken that aim to intimidate and weaken the Judiciary. This attitude of Gilmar Mendes is not new. He insists on attacking the magistrates responsible for Operation Lava Jato. This was done in relation to Judge Sérgio Moro and now it is being done in relation to Marcelo Bretas. It is unacceptable that a Supreme Court minister would come to the press and verbally attack the work of a magistrate,” declared Veloso.

The Federal Prosecutor in Rio de Janeiro, Maria Cristina Cordeiro, was also present and expressed her repudiation of the way Mendes has been referring to members of the Public Prosecutor's Office and the judiciary. “What has been happening signals an intention to weaken Operation Lava Jato. We in the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office are also being victims of offenses. Just as he has been referring to Judge Marcelo Bretas, he has also been referring to colleagues who are part of the Lava Jato task force here in Rio de Janeiro,” said Maria Cristina.

In addition to members of the judiciary, several artists attended the event, including Caetano Veloso, Tiago Lacerda, Paula Lavigne, Christiane Torloni, Marcelo Serrado, Paula Burlamarqui, Lucinha Lins, and Jorge Vercilo. They unfurled a banner with the phrase "Bretas, Rio is with you." Caetano explained the reasons for the artists' support of the judge.

“Artists are a visible part of society. It’s good to know that society is moving forward, that there is respect for the actions these people are developing in Brazil. There are projects in the Chamber that are retrograde. I am here supporting Marcelo Bretas, honorably, on behalf of my class. I instinctively identify with Bretas’ position. There is a threat to Lava Jato, to the dismantling of the corrupt organization that insists on remaining in Brazil. The fact is that we feel the need to react,” said Caetano.

Bretas did not give a speech, nor did he speak to the press. The report sought comment from Minister Gilmar Mendes's office regarding the criticism, but received no response by the time of publication.