Investigation into Damares for malfeasance in the Bolsonaro administration reaches the Supreme Federal Court

The Federal Court of the Federal District decided in April to refer an investigation to the Supreme Court into alleged malfeasance by Senator Damares Alves , of the Republicans of the Federal District, while she was Minister of Women, Family and Human Rights in the Jair Bolsonaro administration. The case effectively reached the Supreme Court last Thursday, the 7th, and was assigned to Cármen Lúcia.

The investigation, which was being processed by the 15th Federal Court of Brasília, was opened after statements made by Damares in October 2022, during the election campaign, about alleged sexual exploitation and torture of children on Marajó Island, in Pará.

On October 8, 2022, in a speech with lurid details during a church service in Goiânia, the Bolsonaro supporter declared that the ministry was aware of these crimes, including through photos and videos, without citing any government measures or investigations to combat them. As a result, she was investigated for malfeasance, which is when a public official fails to fulfill their obligations or does so properly.

Damares, the current chair of the Senate Human Rights Committee, has never substantiated her allegations of alleged child sexual exploitation in the Marajó Archipelago. In 2023, she was the target of a public civil action by the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office, which alleged the dissemination of false information and demanded R$5 million in compensation from the former minister and the federal government to the island's population for collective social and moral damages.

When submitting the investigation into malfeasance to the Supreme Court, the Federal Court of the Federal District cited the Supreme Court's new understanding of privileged jurisdiction as its reason. This prerogative now remains valid even after authorities leave office, in situations involving crimes committed during and as a result of public office. In Damares' case, the jurisdiction is that of a minister.

After receiving the case files last Thursday, the 7th, Cármen Lúcia asked the PGR to make a statement on Friday, the 8th.