Minister Isabel Gallotti, from the (Superior Electoral Court), voted for the governor of , (), for abuse of political and economic power in 2022. Subsequently, minister Antonio Carlos asked for a review — more time for analysis —, suspending the deliberations.
The president of Alerj (Rio’s Legislative Assembly), Rodrigo Bacellar () and former vice-governor Thiago Pampolha, current advisor to the TCE-RJ (Rio de Janeiro State Court of Auditors), also received the same statement from the rapporteur.
According to the minister, Castro played a central role in a scheme aimed at the electoral dispute. Gallotti also voted for the ineligibility of those involved and to determine the holding of new elections in the state. The request for a view has a period of 30 days, which can be extended for another 30 days.
The call was made in June 2022. The case refers to the use of Uerj (University of the State of Rio de Janeiro) and the Ceperj Foundation to pay employees of social projects without disclosing their names. Tens of thousands of people would have been hired without transparency.
An investigation by Rio discovered cash withdrawals from the “teller’s mouth”. In total, R$248 million were withdrawn from bank branches by tens of thousands of people who were part of the alleged scheme. Hiring was only interrupted in August, after public civil action by the state Public Ministry.
The case generated two judicial electoral investigation actions, one filed by the Marcelo Freixo (PT) ticket, defeated in the election, and another by the Electoral Prosecutor’s Office. TRE decided to combine the two into a single process. A criminal investigation is still ongoing.
According to the TSE minister, the evidence, including the magnitude of the amounts involved, the systematic illegality in hiring and payments, the improper use of the workforce funded by the public authorities in pre-candidate events and the direct involvement of those investigated form an “extremely serious set of circumstances” that constitutes the abuse of political and economic power, with the purpose of unbalancing the 2022 election.
The use of cash in the scheme investigated was highlighted by the rapporteur. “The system of payments made in cash at the bank counter, with the lack of minimal supervision, presents a hint of doubt. This practice was confirmed even in testimonies,” he said.
Gallotti stated that it is worth highlighting the “extraordinary amount resulting from withdrawals” at a Bradesco branch in Campos dos Goytacazes, Rodrigo Bacellar’s electoral stronghold, more than R$200 million, which was alerted by the bank to the authorities.
After the court ruled on the action, the governor highlighted, in a note, his trust in , in addition to remembering that the Regional Electoral Court of Rio de Janeiro dismissed the accusations due to lack of evidence.
Castro and Bacellar were acquitted in the TRE-RJ (Rio de Janeiro Regional Electoral Court) in May 2024 in a close vote, by 4 to 3. The Public Electoral Ministry took the case to the TSE, when appealing the decision.
If the two are impeached, through the line of succession, the president of the Rio de Janeiro Court of Justice, judge Ricardo Castro, would take over the Guanabara Palace on an interim basis.
