Brazil court crisis deepens as justice orders federal police chief suspended

Mendonca's ruling on Tuesday marks a significant new development in the unprecedented conflict engulfing the nation's top court. The justice argued that the actions surrounding the intelligence reports necessitated immediate measures to preserve the institutional independence of the judiciary and ensure officials could perform their duties free from "illegal constraints."

This judicial clash stems from a report Mendonca disclosed last week, which raised questions about alleged contacts between Moraes and a banker accused of leading a large fraud scheme. This prompted calls for Moraes's investigation. In response, Moraes sought an investigation into Mendonca for alleged abuse of authority, citing the very federal police reports that Mendonca has now challenged as illegal.

The conflict further intensifies the open confrontation between Mendonca, a nominee of former President Jair Bolsonaro, and Moraes, a prominent figure known for pursuing Bolsonaro over a 2023 coup plot.