The presidents of 17 of the 27 state chapters of the OAB, Brazil's national bar association, have publicly demanded an investigation into the case involving Supreme Federal Court (STF) Justice Alexandre de Moraes and Banco Master founder Daniel Vorcaro, according to a survey by Poder360 published on Tuesday (8). Positions range from the national OAB's call for a rigorous inquiry to demands that officials be suspended or declared conflicted. The allegations are still at the investigative stage.
The crisis at the court began on September 1, when Justice André Mendonça, who oversees the Banco Master investigations, declassified a Federal Police report containing messages Vorcaro sent to Moraes. On the same day, the national OAB, led by Beto Simonetti, called for a "rigorous and impartial investigation of all the facts". In a video released on Monday (7), Simonetti pressed the court for quick answers:
"Brazil is living a moment that demands serenity, transparency and answers. (...) When that trust is shaken, it is everyone's duty to work to restore it."
What the chapters are asking
Simonetti has called an extraordinary meeting for Wednesday (9) to discuss the crisis. Court president Luiz Edson Fachin canceled a meeting he had scheduled with OAB leaders for the same day, according to Poder360. Only the Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul chapters went further: Paraná called for Moraes to be suspended and for Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet, also named in the messages, to be declared conflicted, while Rio Grande do Sul demanded Gonet's recusal and an investigation of Moraes. Mato Grosso do Sul called the facts "extremely serious", Ceará said they "undermine society's trust in the justice system" and Paraíba called for ending the STF's power to try criminal cases. Chapters in ten states, among them São Paulo and the Federal District, had not spoken as of publication, and Bahia and Rio Grande do Norte only republished the national note.
The case so far
The report made public by Mendonça runs 218 pages and was built by the Federal Police from the contents of Vorcaro's phone. According to g1, it contains 52 messages Vorcaro sent to Moraes between October and November 2025, when Banco Master was already under investigation. Police analysts concluded the two arranged meetings and discussed the inquiries into the bank. The document also names Gonet and Federal Police director-general Andrei Rodrigues. Gonet challenged the report's legality and asked for the inquiry to be annulled.
Events then moved quickly. On Thursday (3), Moraes used the "fake news" inquiry he has led for seven years to request an investigation of Mendonça for abuse of authority, administrative improbity and misconduct in office. On Friday (4), Fachin pulled that request out of the inquiry and took the case into a procedure run by the court's presidency, promising a response that would be "firm, proportional and rigorous". On Sunday (6), Mendonça sent to the full bench the request to open an investigation against Moraes.
Impeachment enters the campaign
The case has spilled into election season, in a year of general elections in Brazil. Four candidates for the Senate from Minas Gerais said at a g1 debate on Tuesday morning that the allegations tying STF justices to the Banco Master financial scheme must be investigated, and that the justices should be impeached if proven, Valor Econômico reported. Marcelo Aro (PP) said he is "100% in favor" of impeachment, claimed the court "crossed the line" and alleged a R$ 130 million contract between the office of Moraes's wife and Banco Master. Áurea Carolina (PSOL) said she would not refuse to take part in impeachment proceedings, but argued for a rigorous investigation within democratic rules. Carlin Moura (Avante) proposed fixed terms for justices and the suspension of officials while investigations last. Arcanjo Pimenta (MDB) said impeachment should proceed if there are constitutional grounds.
A second round in the afternoon featured Aécio Neves (PSDB), Domingos Sávio (PL) and Manoel Carvalho (MDB); Marília Campos (PT) and Carlos Viana (PSD) declined their invitations. At the STF, the next step has a date: Friday (11) is the deadline Fachin set for Moraes, Mendonça, the Prosecutor-General's office and the Federal Police to submit their explanations. The court president will then decide when the full bench is convened and whether the session will be open or closed.