Brazil's High Court Approves Investigation into Bolsonaro - Corruption is Everywhere

By Clyde Hughes

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, shown in Jerusalem on March 31, 2019, is facing an investigation Monday

after being accused of meddling with the federal police. Photo by Heidi Levine/UPI | License Photo

April 28 (UPI) -- The Brazilian Supreme Court Monday approved an investigation into whether controversial President Jair Bolsonaro tried to interfere with the country's federal police.

Justice Minister Sergio Moro accused Bolsonaro Friday of trying to replace the head of federal police, the equivalent to the FBI, with someone more willing to share intelligence and police business with him.

"The president of the republic ... is also subject to the laws, just like any other of the country's citizens," Supreme Court Judge Celso de Mello said Monday. "No one, absolutely no one, is entitled to infringe and show contempt for our country's laws and constitution."

Sergio Moro submitted his resignation last week in protest of this move.

Local media said Bolsonaro's interest in removing the federal police head centered around an investigation involving his son Carlos Bolsonaro and the dissemination of fake news.

"The president emphasized to me, explicitly, more than once, that he wanted someone [to lead the federal police] who was a personal contact, whom he could call, from whom he could get information, intelligence reports," Moro said.

Carlos Bolsonaro and his brother Flavio are also under investigation for embezzlement. Bolsonaro said accusations that he tried to shield his sons from prosecution are unfounded. He said he was also well within the law if he wanted to replace the leader of the federal police.

"The prerogative is mine, and the day I have to submit to any of my subordinates, I cease to be president of the republic," Bolsonaro said last week.

I could live with that!