CPIs spare DF governor in investigations on 1/8 – 09/29/2023 – Power

Removed from office for more than 60 days after the depredation of the headquarters of the three Powers, the governor of the Federal District, Ibaneis Rocha (MDB), has escaped the two CPIs investigating the coup attacks and is not even mentioned in the political investigations underway in the Congress and the Legislative Chamber of the Federal District.

Since January 8, Ibaneis has seen the top brass of the Federal District’s Military Police arrested, and his former Secretary of Public Security Anderson Torres becoming the focus of investigations into the threat of a coup and interference in the second round of elections.

Federal and Federal District authorities point to different reasons for the governor’s shielding, starting with his influence in the Judiciary.

Privately, politicians also claim that a possible fight with Ibaneis could harm the relationship with the MDB, a party that forms part of the government’s base.

Others also point to the role of the vice-governor of the DF, Celina Leão (PP) — an ally of the president of the Chamber of Deputies, Arthur Lira (PP-AL), and senator Ciro Nogueira (PP-PI), president of Progressistas.

Protection for the governor in the Legislative Chamber’s CPI was expected from the beginning, as the rapporteur, Hermeto (MDB), was government leader. In the local Legislature, 17 of the 24 district deputies declare themselves to be a base.

But not even in the CPI of the National Congress Ibaneis Rocha has been remembered.

District, federal deputies and senators argue that they do not have the power to summon the governor. They recognize that Ibaneis has always stayed away from political fry.

While in the CPI of the Legislative Chamber an invitation to the governor would not have majority support, in the Congressional commission the requests presented (two invitations and four requests for summons) were never on the agenda.

One of the doubts that still hangs in the air is about the opening of the Esplanada dos Ministérios on the 8th. The day before, the Minister of Justice, Flávio Dino (PSB), asked the Federal District government to bar protesters from accessing the area.

On the date of the attacks, however, the coup plotters were not only allowed entry, but also left the camp set up in front of the Army headquarters and approached the headquarters of the Powers escorted by the DF Military Police.

After more than eight months of investigations, the Legislative Chamber’s CPI has still not been able to answer who had the final say on the matter. On January 7, the governor told the Metrópoles website that demonstrations there were allowed, as long as they were peaceful.

Member of the CPI of the Legislative Chamber, district deputy Fábio Félix (PSOL) said that the spontaneous presence of the governor in the commission would be important.

“It is already clear that there was no blackout in intelligence because there was enough information for the operation to be mounted. Why was this operation not well organized? Did he follow this process? Was he the one who decided that the Esplanada would not be closed [no] the 8th?” he asked.

“It is obvious that there is a previous political question as to why the governor chose Anderson Torres to be the Secretary of Public Security, given the level of social tension that existed in Brazil. He was a man of [Jair] Bolsonaro at the Ministry of Justice.”

After the defeat of Bolsonaro (PL), ministers of the STF (Supreme Federal Court) and members of the Lula government (PT) asked Ibaneis not to take Anderson Torres back to the DF Security Secretary — without success.

In Congress, Senator from the Federal District Damares Alves (Republicans) came out in defense of the emedebista. The former minister said that there is “no evidence” against Ibaneis and that, even though she has little relationship with him, she knows that he is a “man of peace”.

“Governor Ibaneis has nothing to do with the acts of January 8th. My team and I are reading everything that arrives at CPMI and we have not found any notes against him,” stated Damares.

“Ibaneis’ removal from the government was enough time to investigate his possible participation and at that time nothing was found either. Therefore, I am sure that the CPMI will deliver the report without involving him.”

Wanted by Sheet, the governor did not want to comment. “I’m not dealing with this matter. I’m still pending judgment on the investigation with the STF,” he said via message.

The governor is being investigated in the Supreme Court’s inquiry, which determines the responsibility of authorities in the destruction of the headquarters of the three Powers. Torres and Fernando de Sousa Oliveira, former number two at the Security Secretariat, are also targets of the investigation.