The PF (Federal Police) launched an operation this Friday (19) that targeted federal deputies and deputies, both from Rio de Janeiro. The institution found R$430,000 in cash seized at an address linked to Sóstenes, who denies accusations, as does Jordy.
For the (Attorney General’s Office), however, there are signs of diversion of public resources, which would have occurred with the help of parliamentarians’ advisors.
The deviation would involve the use of parliamentary quotas, an amount given to deputies to cover expenses incurred in carrying out their mandate.
Understand what the quotas are, how the deviation would have occurred and what those investigated say.
Who was the target of the operation?
This Friday, we will investigate the deviation of parliamentary quotas. The deputies from PL, the former president’s party, Carlos Jordy and Sóstenes Cavalcante were the targets of search and seizure warrants.
Seven warrants were authorized and carried out in Rio de Janeiro and the Federal District, in an operation called Galho Fraco. Among those investigated are also Itamar de Souza Santana and Adailton Oliveira dos Santos, advisors to Jordy and the PL leadership (led by Sóstenes).
The PF also seized R$430,000 in cash seized at an address linked to Sóstenes. He and Jordy are allies of Bolsonaro.
Who authorized the warrants?
The warrants were authorized by the minister of the (Supreme Federal Court). He also ordered the breaking of deputies’ banking secrecy, from May 2018 to December 2024.
According to the minister, financial reports and conversations extracted from the cell phones of those being investigated reveal “robust evidence” of possible money laundering through the splitting of withdrawals and deposits of up to R$9,999, in addition to “large financial transactions, by several people being investigated, possibly linked to the federal deputies mentioned, without identifying the origin of the resources”.
What does the PF investigate?
The objective of the operation is to deepen investigations into misuse of public resources from parliamentary quotas, according to the corporation.
“According to the investigations, political agents, commissioned employees and private individuals would have acted in a coordinated manner to divert and subsequently hide public funds,” said the PF.
The operation is an offshoot of another carried out in December 2024 and investigates the crimes of embezzlement, money laundering and criminal organization.
What is a parliamentary quota?
The parliamentary quota is a monthly amount that the deputy receives to cover expenses during the term of office, such as office rental in the state, airline tickets and car rental.
The police’s suspicion is that a car rental company hired by Jordy and Sóstenes Cavalcante continued to receive money even after it was dissolved.
The institution cites transfers between an alleged car rental shell company and an advisor to Jordy, “demonstrating a possible path for the money.”
“Although irregularly dissolved, the aforementioned business company continues to receive payments made by parliamentarians Carlos Jordy and federal deputy Sóstenes Cavalcante, which are reimbursed as expenses paid with parliamentary quota, relating to the rental or charter of motor vehicles”, stated the PF.
What does the PGR say?
For the PGR (Attorney General’s Office), Sóstenes and Jordy diverted resources from the parliamentary quota through advisors, who would help give the appearance of legality to the scheme in which the quotas would be reimbursed.
“The dialogues located by the police authority indicate collusion between Itamar de Souza Santana and Adailton Oliveira dos Santos, advisors to deputies Carlos Jordy and Sóstenes Cavalcante, respectively”, stated the agency.
What do the investigated deputies say?
Sóstenes told the press that he was suffering and that cash was found at his address.
He said that the buyer wanted to pay him in cash and that he had not been able to make a deposit.
“I ended up not making a deposit, but I would have. In fact, part of it, I have been thinking about doing other business and everything, I ended up not making the deposit”, he stated.
Jordy called the PF’s allegation involving corruption with the car rental company “crude.” In a video on social media, he also called the operation “cowardly.”
