Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, right, speaks with Federal Police Director General Andrei Rodrigues, center, next to Justice Minister Wellington Cesar, far left, during Independence Day celebrations in Brasilia, Brazil, Monday, Sept. 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
Supreme Court Justice Andre Mendonca, left, and Justice Alexandre de Moraes attend a plenary session of the court in Brasilia, Brazil, Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazilian Supreme Court Justice André Mendonca on Tuesday removed the head of the country’s federal police and its intelligence chief from their posts, deepening a crisis at the top court and drawing President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s government into the turmoil ahead of October national elections.
Mendonca, an appointee of former President Jair Bolsonaro, said in his ruling that federal police Director-General Andrei Rodrigues, a Lula nominee, and the intelligence director of the force, Leandro Almada, headed an organization that allegedly produced six illegal reports on the justice’s activities through the end of August.
Lula’s solicitor-general appealed the decision before the court’s chief-justice hours later, saying Mendonca has no jurisdiction in deciding who heads the country’s federal police.
