The target of a search and seizure operation of the Federal Police, the 66, entered the sights of the Supreme Court (STF), suspected of trying to disturb the trial of the coup plot. This Wednesday (20), PF agents approached Malafaia at Tom Jobim International Airport, Galeão, in Rio de Janeiro, and seized their cell phone.
By order of STF Minister Alexandre de Moraes, the pastor had a canceled passport and can no longer have contact with, nor with federal deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL), both indicted in the inquiry. Moraes also authorized the breach of bank, tax and telephone data confidentiality of the seized equipment.
The PF had included the pastor in the inquiry under the rapporteur that he investigates former President (), Federal Deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL-SP) and commentator Paulo Figueiredo for an alleged attempt to embarrass the investigations.
Malafaia is one of the main spokespersons of Bolsonarism and has never spared attacks on the Supreme. “They want to shut up opponents. That’s what Alexandre de Moraes has been doing in these four years, in this survey that is a scam,” he said in a video, published on his social networks, as soon as he learned of his name in the inquiry. “What is this country? What democracy is this? And get ready, because I’m going to break. I’m not afraid of political investigation, pure persecution.”
In recent times Malafaia became the organizer of the protests for the amnesty. In September, Bolsonaro will be tried at the same court for attempted coup d’état in 2022. In January, for example, he called Moraes dictator during a demonstration on Paulista Avenue in Sao Paulo and said the minister has blood in his hands.
“There is blood in the hands of, dictator, you will realize God. Clezão was a member of my church,” said Malafaia in the protest, citing the name of Clériston Pereira da Cunha, one of those involved in January 8, who died in prison. “The blood of this righteous cries before God.” In addition to his political influence, the pastor is one of the main religious leaders of the country.
In March this year, he participated in an act for amnesty at Copacabana Beach, in Rio de Janeiro, and accused Moraes of committing crimes. “Minister Alexandre de Moraes is a criminal. Six years ago he began to preside over the fake news inquiry. From this inquiry, Alexandre de Moraes establishes the crime of opinion. As in a democratic rule of law do you have a crime of opinion?” The pastor accused Moraes of censorship, stressed that people were exiled for his fault and still called him a dictator.
Graduated in theology and psychology, he is president of the Assembly of God Victory in Christ and was best known to present, for over 30 years, the TV Vitória in Christ. The attraction is also transmitted in the United States. Organizing religious conferences, he raised controversy with declarations against abortion and homosexuals. He is a defender of prosperity theology and, from 2002 to 2006, was supporter of President Lula (PT).
In the inquiry under the rapporteur of Moraes, the Federal Police claim to have identified that Malafaia, “well -known religious leader,” worked in articulation with other investigated “in defining coercion strategies and dissemination of untrue narratives, as well as the direction of coordinated actions.”
For the investigators, the pastor’s purpose would be to “coerce members of the Judiciary Summit, in order to prevent any judicial action by the Supreme Court (STF) from counteracting the illicit interests of the criminal group.”
