Deputy Lindbergh Farias Challenges Legality of Legislative Police Investigation Initiated by Alfredo Gaspar
Deputy Lindbergh Farias files complaint with the Supreme Federal Court challenging the legality of a Legislative Police investigation requested by Deputy Alfredo Gaspar, citing constitutional breaches and jurisdictional overreach.
- • Lindbergh Farias alleges the investigation violated constitutional procedures and lacked STF authorization.
- • The Legislative Police conducted a criminal investigation without informing Farias and overstepped its jurisdiction.
- • The investigation involved obtaining phone data from Claro and interviewing witnesses accusing Farias.
- • The phone numbers under investigation are part of a separate ongoing STF inquiry.
- • Farias seeks annulment of the investigation and a ruling to halt use of collected evidence pending resolution.
Key details
Deputy Lindbergh Farias (PT-RJ) has formally requested the Supreme Federal Court (STF) to suspend and annul an investigation carried out by the Legislative Police of the Chamber of Deputies at the behest of Deputy Alfredo Gaspar (PL-AL). Farias claims the inquiry, initiated on April 14, was illegal due to a lack of STF authorization, which is constitutionally required for investigating members of Congress.
According to Farias, the investigation began after Gaspar, identifying as a victim, filed a complaint leading the Legislative Police to seek personal data from the telecom company Claro linked to two phone numbers. Subsequent steps involved interviewing a witness who accused Farias of orchestrating false allegations against Gaspar—a charge Farias denies. Crucially, Farias states he was never informed or summoned during the process, raising concerns over procedural fairness.
Farias argues that the Legislative Police overstepped its jurisdiction by conducting criminal investigations without Supreme Court oversight and extending activities beyond the Chamber's premises, including virtual meetings and scrutiny of financial transactions. He further points out that the phone numbers examined are already subjects of an unrelated STF investigation, highlighting potential jurisdictional conflicts.
The complaint also suspects misuse of legislative resources for possible political attacks and requests the STF to block the investigation promptly and prohibit use of any collected evidence. Farias urges that the gathered data be forwarded to the Attorney General to evaluate any misconduct. The case spotlights constitutional and procedural questions over legislative police authority and protections for members of Congress in Brazil.
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
