What is known about the episode of hostility to Moraes – 07/17/2023 – Politics

The hostility towards the Minister of the STF (Supreme Federal Court) Alexandre de Moraes and his family at the international airport in Rome, Italy, last Friday (14), resulted in the opening of an investigation by the Federal Police.

A group of Brazilians from the interior of São Paulo, suspected of involvement in the attacks on the magistrate, were approached by police agents upon arrival in Brazil and summoned to give statements.

The PF investigates businessman Roberto Mantovani Filho, 71, who was with Andreia Munarão, his wife, Alex Zanata Bignotto, his son-in-law, and Giovanni Mantovani, his son.

According to investigators, a group uttered expressions such as “bandit”, “communist” and “bought” against Moraes.

The defense of the cited suspects denies that they have offended the magistrate and say that there was only an altercation. The family’s lawyer, however, avoids commenting on the attack on the minister’s son.

Understand what is known about case:

Swearing to Moraes

Moraes participated in an international law forum held at the University of Siena in Italy. He was part of the panel on the Constitutional Justice and Democracy panel, in which minister André Ramos Tavares, also a member of the TSE (Superior Electoral Court), also participated.

In the boarding area of ​​Rome’s international airport, those responsible for the hostilities approached and insulted the minister, calling him a “bandit”, “communist” and “purchased”, according to investigators.

They would also have assaulted Moraes’ son with a push. The glasses fell to the floor due to the impact of a blow to the face.

Accused businessman and family

The PF pointed Mantovani Filho, Andreia Munarão, Alex Zanata Bignotto and Giovanni Mantovani as possible authors of the attacks on the magistrate’s family. Mantovani Filho is attributed with the blow to Moraes’ son’s face.

This Sunday (16), Bignotto testified for two hours to the PF in Piracicaba (SP), and denied the accusation of offending the jurist. The other targets of the inquiry will be heard next Tuesday (18) by the corporation.

Mantovani denies attacks

Mantovani Filho’s family lawyer stated that his clients were not at the airport to harass the minister, and that they were “just passing by and there was a fortuitous meeting”.

According to the defense, the family arrived at the airport of the Italian capital, to board to Brazil, five hours before the flight and looked for a VIP room. In a first space, said the lawyer, the group was informed that it was full. So they decided to look for another one.

The family moved on, and would have crossed paths with Moraes and his family as they looked for another place to stay. At that moment, one of the people accompanying the minister allegedly clashed with Andreia Munarão.

This discussion would have evolved into an aggression against Moraes’ son, attributed to the businessman from the interior of São Paulo. The family denies that there was any mention of or offense to the minister. “They recognize that there was an argument between part of their group and part of Minister Alexandre’s group. No offenses against the minister,” said the lawyer.

Assault on Moraes’ son from outside the defense

Despite denying any hostility to Moraes, the defense of Mantovani Filho’s family avoided commenting on the aggression against Moraes’ son.

Bolsonaristas against Moraes

Moraes has become in recent years the main executioner of former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) in the Judiciary, commanding inquiries that affect the former president in the STF. He also commanded the TSE in the 2022 elections and in last month’s trial that ruled Bolsonaro’s ineligibility until 2030.

Moraes has already been the target of insults by Bolsonaro, who, in the last two years, has already referred to the minister as a “tramp” and a “scoundrel”. The behavior of the former Chief Executive was replicated to other members of the Supreme, who became the target of hostilities more frequently.

The most emblematic case involving Moraes and other ministers was in New York, in the United States, where they were about to participate in an event by the Lide group, in November 2022.

A group of Bolsonaro supporters began to harass, in addition to the president of the TSE, ministers Gilmar Mendes, Ricardo Lewandowski and Luís Roberto Barroso when they were walking around the city and leaving restaurants and hotels. It was in this context that Barroso said the expression “lost, dummy, doesn’t bother”, in response to one of the demonstrators.