Lula's Son Case Turns into Obstacle for Jorge Messias' STF Nomination

The Attorney General of the Union, Jorge Messias, has become the target of internal criticism aimed at eroding his possible appointment to a seat on the Supreme Federal Court. The strain stems from the AGU’s conduct in what is known as the Lulinha Case, which involves investigations into the president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s son. The episode has caused friction between the Federal Police and the court, directly impacting Messias’s name.

The Use of the Lulinha Case Against the STF Nomination

Jorge Messias has become the target of critical messages in communication groups of AGU staff, Federal Police, and magistrates. The main content shared is a video that criticizes the minister for not contesting the decisions of the INSS probe’s rapporteur at the Supreme Federal Court, Minister André Mendonça. This investigation focuses on Fábio Luís Lula da Silva, the president’s son, due to ties with lobbyist Roberta Luchsinger and businessman Antônio Carlos Camilo Antunes. The case was split into three new inquiries to investigate negotiations over the sale of medicinal cannabis to the government.

The AGU’s Refusal of the Federal Police’s Request

The strain against Messias increased after a request made by the Federal Police’s Director-General, Andrei Rodrigues. He asked the Attorney General’s Office to evaluate measures to contest orders from André Mendonça. The STF minister required the agency to send all documents from the Sem Desconto Operation investigations to the court and to notify in advance of any removal or replacement of investigators. Jorge Messias refused the request, deeming the measure inappropriate for the AGU’s criminal work.

The Tension Between Institutions and Ministers’ Reaction

Messias’s decision triggered a clash between Minister André Mendonça and the Federal Police’s Director-General. This scenario coincides with a period of meetings between President Lula and ministers Alexandre de Moraes, Gilmar Mendes, and Flávio Dino, who oppose Messias’s nomination to the STF. Moreover, political maneuvers and informal dinners at Palácio da Alvorada and Brasília have been cited as moments of debate on filling court vacancies and the erosion of authorities in investigations.

The Political Risks Highlighted by Messias’s Allies

Defenders of the attorney general argue that accepting the Federal Police’s request could lead to obstruction of justice charges against Messias himself. Recently, ties between the lobbyist involved in the case and former president’s chief of staff Marco Aurélio Santana Ribeiro were revealed. In light of this, allies emphasize that an AGU intervention, which defends the president, could directly reflect on Lula, under accusations of interfering in an investigation of his son.

With information from Estadão, Gazeta do Povo.