Mendonça: releasing Vorcaro's cellphone would disrupt the trial

The minister of Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF) André Mendonça said in a statement on Sunday (13) that it would include new elements and open the full information extracted from the cellphone of the former banker Daniel Vorcaro "only contribute to tumultuous trial" and "put at risk all the follow-up and success of the investigations". The demonstration takes place two days before the trial in the plenary of the STF, scheduled for next Tuesday (15), in which the ministers must analyze the report of the Federal Police on messages exchanged between Vorcaro and the minister Alexandre de Moraes.

The case has gained new contours in recent days, when ministers Cristiano Zanin, Gilmar Mendes and Alexandre de Moraes himself triggered the presidency of the Court to charge full access to the mirroring of the device — an iPhone seized by PF in the counts linked to the Banco Master. Zanin and Gilmar argued that the magistrates need all the context to decide, while Moraes pointed out that "it is not up to the rapporteur to choose which documents accessible to the Collegiate to carry out his judgment".

Mendonça rebates charges for full access

In Sunday’s document, Mendonça rebuffed the charges and ensured that all members of the court have access to the same material that he himself will use. The minister stressed that the complete opening of the archives could compromise the progress of the investigations, since sensitive information could be leaked or misused. For the rapporteur, the measure would not benefit the trial, it would only create procedural noise.

In addition, Mendonça stressed that the decision on which elements are relevant is up to the rapporteur, according to the practice of the court. He recalled that the material has already been made available in a summary form and that ministers can request further clarification if they deem it necessary. The source did not detail whether there will be a new round of demonstrations ahead of Tuesday’s session.

Request for clarification to the Federal Police

In the same office, Mendonça asked Fachin to determine to four delegates of PF to provide information, within 24 hours, on how the sending of reports and media to his office was in March 2026. The minister pointed out that there was "divergence of information" about the material's forwarding. He cited a statement he delivered to his office "no decision having been indicated that contained the aforementioned determination".

Mendonça requested that the police clarify the circumstances of the delivery of the material and inform if they have suffered any "constraints suffered during the investigations". The PF also pointed out that the file passed on to the Mendonça office in March was a copy, in response to a formal request from the rapporteur. Mendonça, for his part, had previously argued that he kept the files sealed and encrypted in his office as security counter-proof, without having handled them.

Divergence on sending the material

The controversy over the origin and handling of Vorcaro’s cellphone mirroring has become a central point of dispute. While PF claims to have sent a copy at the request of the office, Mendonça maintains that it received the material without a court decision determining the sending. This difference in versions led the minister to ask the delegates to explain, in 24 hours, how the delivery took place.

The request for clarification also includes the request for police officers to report whether they have been subjected to some type of pressure during the investigations. The expression "constraints suffered" suggests that the rapporteur wants to map possible interferences in the work of the FP. The source did not detail what these constraints would be or if there are any indications of irregularity.

Fala de Fachin is quoted by Mendonça

Citing the President of the Court, Luiz Edson Fachin, Mendonça concluded by stating that "as the eminent President has emphasized, 'the gravity of the facts does not authorize shortcuts', but also does not tolerate subterfuge or diversion of routes, towards other interests than those of Justice". The citation reinforces the tone of caution adopted by the rapporteur, who seeks to shield the process against procedural questions.

Tuesday’s trial should revolve around the PF’s report on the messages between Vorcaro and Moraes. The expectation is that the ministers decide whether the content should be fully shared with all members of the plenary or if the summary version presented by Mendonça is sufficient. The source did not detail whether there will be a live broadcast of the session.

Next steps and impact on the case

The decision of the plenary could define the direction of the investigations involving the Banco Master and the alleged exchanges of messages between the former banker and the minister Alexandre de Moraes. If the ministers consider that full access is necessary, the rapporteur will have to make the full mirror available, which may delay the progress of the process. On the other hand, if Mendonça’s thesis prevails, the judgment will continue based on the material already presented.

The case also raises discussions about the transparency in the internal procedures of the STF and the role of the rapporteur in the selection of evidence. The demonstration in Mendonça on Sunday indicates that he does not intend to back down from his position, even in the face of pressure from his colleagues in Corte. The outcome of Tuesday’s session will be decisive for the future of the investigations and for the image of the court before public opinion.

The Boca no Trombone Portal will continue to monitor the case and bring updates as soon as the trial is completed. For more news about the STF and national policy, continue browsing our website.

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