Brazil's supreme court justices clash over corruption investigation before election

Brazil's Supreme Court fell into crisis in early September 2026, just three weeks before the presidential election. Two senior justices, Alexandre de Moraes and André Mendonça, publicly disagreed and issued rulings that contradicted each other. The case involved Daniel Vorcaro, a banker arrested for fraud connected to the collapse of Banco Master. The scandal also touched lawmakers and right-wing candidate Flávio Bolsonaro. Mendonça was accused of releasing investigation documents at a time chosen to influence the vote. The Chief Justice stepped in and suspended the conflicting rulings. Court sessions were cancelled during the dispute. On Tuesday, the court was due to look at de Moraes' own connections to the jailed banker.