PF Delegates Request Recusal of Prosecutor General Paulo Gonet in Master Case Investigation

The National Association of Federal Police Delegates (ADPF) has requested that the Prosecutor General of the Republic, Paulo Gonet, declare himself impeded from acting in procedures related to the Master case. The request follows the opening of an investigation by Gonet into the conduct of the Federal Police (PF) regarding a report that detailed close ties between banker Daniel Vorcaro and Supreme Court Minister Alexandre de Moraes. The report also cited Gonet himself. The ADPF, representing over 2,300 delegates, argues that the report was produced under the direct order of Supreme Court Minister André Mendonça and that the investigators were simply fulfilling a judicial mandate. The association claims that Gonet's investigation into the PF's conduct has an intimidating effect on investigators and constitutes an improper use of the external control of police activity. They contend that if the Prosecutor General believes the judicial order was irregular, the proper channel for challenge is within the Supreme Court process rather than through a disciplinary probe of the executors. The ADPF further cites the Code of Criminal Procedure to argue that rules regarding the recusal of judges also apply to the Public Ministry, especially since Gonet is named in the report. In addition to the recusal request, the association has asked for the archiving of the current probe and for a full, non selective investigation into all facts revealed by Operation Compliance Zero. Meanwhile, Minister Alexandre de Moraes has used separate intelligence reports to request an investigation into Minister André Mendonça, alleging that Mendonça may have directed investigations for personal and political reasons.