Moraes Says Mendonça Wanted to Target Davi Alcolumbre
Listen to the story
Alexandre de Moraes, a judge on Brazil's Supreme Court, has said that another judge, André Mendonça, tried to direct an investigation to harm Davi Alcolumbre, a senior senator. Moraes made this claim as part of an ongoing conflict between the two judges.
The investigation in question deals with the spread of fake news, or false information shared to trick people. It has looked at many different targets, ranging from small political groups to former President Jair Bolsonaro. This shows how wide the investigation has become since it started.
According to reports, the Federal Police also examined claims made about Lulinha, the son of current President Lula. In a report given to Mendonça, the police said that one accusation against Lulinha had no real support or evidence behind it.
Moraes appears to be using details from this fake news investigation as part of his case against Mendonça. He is suggesting that Mendonça tried to use the investigation for his own political purposes, rather than for finding the truth.
This dispute highlights growing tension inside Brazil's judiciary, especially among judges who often handle sensitive political cases. The Supreme Court plays a major role in Brazilian politics, and disagreements between its judges can have wide effects.
So far, no final decision has been announced. The case remains part of a larger and complex set of legal and political disputes in Brazil, and it is likely to continue drawing public attention in the coming weeks.
Vocabulary10 words
- direct
- to guide or control something toward a goal
- senator
- a member of a country's senate, a lawmaking group
- fake news
- false information made to look true
- Federal Police
- Brazil's national police force
- accusation
- a statement that someone did something wrong
- judiciary
- the system of courts and judges in a country
- evidence
- facts that prove something is true
- political
- related to government and power
- dispute
- a disagreement between people
- case
- a legal matter being decided by a court
Quiz
Answer key
1. That he tried to direct an investigation against Alcolumbre 2. A wide range of political targets 3. It lacked real support or evidence
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Alexandre de Moraes, a judge on Brazil's Supreme Court, has said that another judge, André Mendonça, tried to _____ an investigation to harm Davi Alcolumbre, a senior _____.
Moraes made this claim as part of an ongoing _____ between the two judges.
The investigation in question deals with the spread of _____, or false information shared to trick people.
It has looked at many different targets, ranging from small political groups to former President Jair _____.
According to reports, the _____ also examined claims made about Lulinha, the son of current President Lula.
The police said that one _____ against Lulinha had no real support or evidence behind it.
Moraes appears to be using details from this fake news investigation as part of his case against _____.
He is suggesting that Mendonça tried to use the investigation for his own _____ purposes.
This dispute highlights growing tension inside Brazil's _____.
The case remains part of a larger and complex set of legal and political disputes in _____.
Discussion questions
- Why might disagreements between judges on a Supreme Court be a concern for the public?
- What problems can fake news investigations create if they are misused for political reasons?
- How important is evidence when making accusations against public figures?
- Do you think conflicts between top judges can affect trust in a country's justice system?