Valdemar da Costa Neto’s lawyer leaves Bolsonaro’s defense in STF proceedings

Lawyer Marcelo Bessa left this Thursday (15) the defense of former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) in cases being processed at the Federal Supreme Court (STF). Bessa also defends the president of the PL, Valdemar da Costa Neto. The lawyer worked on the former president’s legal team in investigations into digital militias, into the management of the pandemic, among others. He will be replaced by lawyer Luciana Lauria Lopes.

Last week, Minister Alexandre de Moraes banned the targets of Operation Tempus Veritatis from talking to each other or through lawyers. According to the Federal Police, the operation was launched to “investigate a criminal organization that acted in the attempted coup d’état and abolition of the Democratic Rule of Law, to obtain a political advantage with the maintenance of the then President of the Republic [Bolsonaro] in the power”.

The former president’s defense asked the STF, this Wednesday (14), to overturn Moraes’ decision. Bolsonaro’s lawyers argue that banning contact with Valdemar could harm the articulations for this year’s electoral dispute.

The Brazilian Bar Association (OAB) stated that it will appeal the minister’s decision that prohibited communication between lawyers. The entity’s president, Beto Simonetti, highlighted that jurists cannot be prohibited from interacting with or confused with their clients.