Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the frontrunner among right-wing candidates challenging President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in next month’s election, is the subject of a corruption and money laundering investigation linked to the collapse of Banco Master. Court records unsealed on Friday revealed the probe, which was initiated in July by Supreme Court Justice Andre Mendonca, a appointee of former president Jair Bolsonaro who has become a prominent figure among Brazil’s right wing.
The investigation was launched at the request of federal police as part of a broader inquiry into the failed lender. However, specific details remained private until Chief Justice Edson Fachin ordered the proceedings to be made public late Thursday. Justice Mendonca subsequently released thousands of pages of documents, though some aspects of the case involving the senator remain under secrecy due to ongoing police operations.
According to the documents, the scrutiny centers on an investment Flavio Bolsonaro allegedly sought from banker Daniel Vorcaro, the owner of Banco Master, to finance “Dark Horse,” a movie about his father starring US actor Jim Caviezel. Questions regarding the film’s funding first surfaced in May, leading the senator to acknowledge that he had approached Vorcaro for financial backing while denying any impropriety. The disclosure reportedly caused a dip in his opinion poll standings at the time.
Vorcaro was arrested in March, and police cited his donations to the film project as grounds for the investigation into potential money laundering, illicit foreign exchange activities, and corruption. Despite the allegations, Flavio Bolsonaro maintained on Friday that he had “nothing to hide” and characterized the film financing as “completely legal.” He has consistently stated that his interactions with the banker were private matters unrelated to the federal investigation.
The development adds to a deepening institutional crisis in Brazil as voters prepare for an unusually tight electoral contest where opinion polls indicate the senator and President Lula are statistically neck-and-neck in a potential runoff. The case has also exposed fractures within the Supreme Court, particularly between Justice Mendonca and Alexandre de Moraes, who has also been mentioned in connection with the Banco Master probe.
Earlier this month, Justice Mendonca released messages that police allege Vorcaro sent to Justice Moraes, sparking calls for an unprecedented investigation into a sitting justice over claims that Moraes acted as an adviser to the banker. Justice Moraes has denied these allegations and accused Mendonca of overstepping his authority. Chief Justice Fachin has scheduled a full-court session for Tuesday to address the allegations regarding Moraes’ relationship with Vorcaro.
During Independence Day rallies in Sao Paulo on Monday, supporters of Senator Bolsonaro displayed a giant inflatable balloon depicting Justice Mendonca. Meanwhile, President Lula sought to distance himself from the judicial turmoil by publicly advocating for transparency. In an interview with SBT TV on Thursday, Lula stated, “Whenever there is an allegation involving the judiciary or politics, it should be made public so everyone knows what is happening. Investigate everything, disclose everything, regardless of who it hurts.”
The public fight between Supreme Court justices is terrifying. If they can’t stay professional, how can voters trust the process?
Is Justice Mendonca really neutral here? He was appointed by Jair Bolsonaro, which makes this whole probe look politically motivated to me.
I had no idea Flavio was pursuing a movie about his dad. That seems like a weird detail to tie to money laundering allegations.
Another scandal just weeks before the vote? Brazil really needs institutional stability, not more judicial drama.