Brazil Chief Justice Gives Mendonça 72 Hours in Police-Leadership Appeal

Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court president Edson Fachin gave Justice André Mendonça 72 hours to respond to the Union’s request to suspend the preventive removals of Federal Police director-general Andrei Rodrigues and intelligence director Leandro Almada da Costa. Fachin did not decide the merits or reinstate either official. The case will return to the court presidency after Mendonça responds. The Solicitor-General’s Office argues the removals harm public and administrative order and intrude on the president’s appointment authority, while Mendonça’s underlying order alleged that six intelligence reports were produced unlawfully and directed criminal and disciplinary investigations.