The party Novo filed a request with the Federal Supreme Court on Thursday, September 17, asking for Minister Alexandre de Moraes to be barred from voting on the request to open an inquiry against him. The party also wants Moraes’s vote to not count during the current hearing. This request targets a specific procedure the court is discussing, known as a question of order, and extends to any future decisions in this case.
The dispute centers on a police report regarding conversations between Moraes and Daniel Vorcaro. Vorcaro is a former banker currently being held preventively for fraud at Banco Master. The Federal Police highlighted messages exchanged between the two just before the arrest, as well as a contract worth R$ 131 million signed between the banker and Moraes’s law firm. The report was made at the request of André Mendonça, relator of the Banco Master inquiry.
Moraes has accused Mendonça of political favoritism in the Master and INSS investigations. He asked the STF presidency to investigate Mendonça for potential administrative impropriety. The judges began this specific debate on Tuesday, September 15. During the session, Gilmar Mendes opened a question of order.
Moraes did not declare himself recused during the session. He voted on the question of order. Novo argues that Moraes held two incompatible positions: he acted as a defendant defending himself while simultaneously voting as a judge. As a secondary measure, Novo asked for Moraes to be declared suspect, which would have the same legal effects as a recusal. If the question of order is not accepted, the party wants it treated as an accusation of recusal or suspicion.
