Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, a prominent right-wing contender in Brazil’s upcoming presidential election, is currently under investigation for his alleged connections to a major corruption and money laundering scandal. Newly unsealed Supreme Court documents reveal that Justice Andre Mendonca authorized an inquiry into the senator in July, following a formal request from federal police.
The investigation centers on the senator’s alleged involvement with Daniel Vorcaro, the former head of the failed lender Banco Master. Vorcaro, who was arrested this past March, stands accused of orchestrating one of the most significant financial fraud schemes in the nation’s history. Authorities estimate the fraud, which impacted approximately 800,000 bank clients, to be valued at roughly $2.3 billion.
Police investigators are examining potential ties between the senator and the disgraced banker, specifically focusing on allegations of corruption, money laundering, and tax evasion. According to court records, data retrieved from Vorcaro’s mobile device indicates that about $12 million was transferred in 2025 to a United States-based fund associated with Eduardo Bolsonaro, the senator’s brother. These funds were reportedly intended for the production of the 2026 film “Dark Horse,” which depicts the brothers’ father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, in a positive light.
Court documents also suggest that Eduardo Bolsonaro, a former legislator, provided guidance to Vorcaro regarding the management of these US-based assets. Responding to these allegations, Eduardo Bolsonaro told Reuters on Friday, “They want to frame this as bribe money, which it isn’t. That’s a lie.” He claimed the transfers were a strategic move to protect the funds from interference by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, a frequent critic of the Bolsonaro family.
Justice de Moraes previously presided over the 2025 criminal proceedings against former President Jair Bolsonaro, who was sentenced to 27 years in prison for his role in an attempted coup. De Moraes was also involved in a separate case that led to the conviction of Eduardo Bolsonaro for soliciting foreign interference in Brazilian politics.
The scrutiny surrounding Flavio Bolsonaro intensified following the release of leaked messages between the senator and Vorcaro in May. Flavio Bolsonaro has consistently denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that he was merely seeking private investment for his father’s film project. As he prepares to face incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the October 4 general election, the senator has called for full transparency, stating during a campaign event, “Investigate everything and everyone with transparency. Show it to the press, show it to the people. Let’s see who is right.”
President Lula has similarly advocated for a comprehensive probe, telling reporters in a television interview on Thursday, “Investigate everything, disclose everything, regardless of who it hurts.” The current race is widely expected to proceed to a run-off, as neither candidate has secured an outright majority in pre-election polling.
The disclosure of the probe into the senator followed an order by Chief Justice Edson Fachin to unseal the extensive Banco Master case records this week. The Supreme Court itself remains embroiled in internal conflict regarding the scandal. Justice Mendonca, an appointee of the former president, recently released documents suggesting that Vorcaro sought advice from Justice de Moraes. In response, de Moraes accused Mendonca of abusing his official position by unsealing sensitive records and holding private meetings with the suspect without police or prosecutors present. The court is scheduled to determine next week whether to initiate a formal investigation into de Moraes.
While thousands of pages of records have been released, the broader implications of the case remain uncertain. Many segments of the investigation, including specific details regarding the probe into Senator Bolsonaro, remain under seal as federal police continue their work. The report also notes that one of Jair Bolsonaro’s judicial appointees, unsealed on September 1 a series of documents purporting to show Vorcaro seeking advice from de Moraes, his colleague on the court, justice Mendonca.