Federal prosecutors have reportedly expressed “embarrassment” and “perplexity” over Attorney General Paulo Gonet’s appearance in a Federal Police report involving Supreme Federal Court (STF) Justice Alexandre de Moraes and banker Daniel Vorcaro, according to single-source reporting by CNN Brasil.
The report includes messages exchanged between Ciro Passos, a lawyer for Vorcaro, and the banker. The messages allegedly refer to a close relationship between Gonet and Vorcaro, including international flights for Gonet’s son, plans to smoke cigars and drink Macallan whisky, and a photograph of Passos and Gonet sent to Vorcaro.
CNN Brasil reported that prosecutors have discussed the episode informally outside internal messaging groups. Inside the Federal Prosecution Service (MPF), however, silence has prevailed. Prosecutors reportedly attribute that climate to a measure introduced by Gonet’s administration earlier this year that reduced activity on the MPF’s internal network and, according to the report, limited criticism of his leadership.
Questions About Independence
The criticism reportedly focuses on both the alleged closeness between Gonet and Vorcaro and Gonet’s use of Passos as an intermediary. Prosecutors cited by CNN described Passos as a well-known lobbyist who attends many of the same events as Gonet.
The prosecutors reportedly acknowledge that the alleged contacts occurred before the problems surrounding Banco Master became public. They nevertheless argue that the relationship may have created an appearance of compromised independence, a central principle of the federal prosecution service.
Gonet also faced criticism for acting within hours to ask that the Federal Police report be dismissed or declared invalid. The report said the attorney general acted well before the five-day deadline. He similarly sought the dismissal of allegations Vorcaro made during testimony to an STF justice.
The police document also cited Moraes, whose relationship with Vorcaro is part of the broader controversy. Prosecutors reportedly believe Gonet’s perceived alignment with Moraes and Justice Gilmar Mendes makes it difficult for him to act independently in the current crisis, including by opening a possible investigation involving Moraes.
Pressure For A New Selection Process
The episode has prompted an initial effort among influential prosecutors to revive the practice of choosing the attorney general from a three-name list prepared by members of the prosecution service.
The practice was never established in law but remained a political tradition until 2019, when President Jair Bolsonaro selected Augusto Aras instead. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva followed the same approach in 2023, choosing Gonet and later reappointing him to a second term. Both selections reportedly involved negotiations with Congress and the Supreme Court, which prosecutors say can weaken the attorney general’s constitutional independence to investigate.
Gonet is scheduled to remain in office until December 2027. Prosecutors are expected to wait for the controversy to settle before renewing calls for Congress to approve a constitutional amendment formally requiring the three-name list.
CNN Brasil said it contacted Gonet through his press office. He did not comment and has not publicly issued a statement about his relationship with Vorcaro or Passos.