How Brazilian judge Alexandre de Moraes got into power
de Moraes' predecessor, Teori Zavascki, perished in a mysterious plane crash following his authorization of an investigation into dozens of politicians for corruption in 2017 as part of "Operation Car Wash." His twin-engine aircraft crashed during a holiday flight to Rio de Janeiro. As reported by Time, the enquiry ensnared almost every Brazilian politician, including President Michel Temer, who was then president and named in plea bargains.
"Zavascki had just returned from vacation and was shortly due to rule on the eligibility of plea bargain testimonies by 77 Odebrecht executives, which are thought likely to implicate many of the most powerful figures in Brazil and its Latin American neighbours," the Guardian reported.
A further investigation into the crash found no mechanical failures with the plane. Per the Guardian and other reports, "flight recordings suggested there was no equipment malfunction" and communications with the pilot had no indication that he was suffering any difficulties.
Enter Alexandre de Moraes, who was President Temer's appointed replacement for Zavascki while serving as Minister of Justice and Public Security for Temer's government.
Prior to his appointment in 2016, de Moraes was at the beck and call of President Temer, who was allegedly the subject of a hacker who was trying to blackmail the president with compromising information and photos he got from Temer's wife's stolen phone. de Moraes lept into action at Temer's request and arrested the alleged hacker in a heartbeat.
Guess you could say Temer owed him one when he appointed him to lead the judiciary.
https://twitter.com/stillgray/status/1777563172540662240
Sources:
https://time.com/4642972/brazil-teori-zavascki-brazil-corruption/
