Brazil Supreme Court orders release of thousands of pages in Banco Master fraud probe

On Thursday, Chief Justice Edson Fachin instructed that the sealed portions of the Banco Master fraud investigation be released, and Justice Andre Mendonca promptly acted on the order. The case, involving alleged multibillion-dollar misconduct by the failed lender Banco Master, has drawn in central-bank officials, politicians and Supreme Court justices, notably Alexandre de Moraes, who is accused of advising former CEO Daniel Vorcaro.

The disclosures have intensified an institutional crisis within Brazil’s judiciary as the nation heads toward a closely contested presidential election between Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Flavio Bolsonaro. Lula endorsed the unsealing, urging full transparency regardless of who is implicated. A full-court session is set for September 15 to examine the allegations against Moraes. The outcome could sway public opinion and affect the electoral balance.