On Sunday, the Brazilian offshoot of the online news site the Intercept disclosed old private messages between now-Justice Minister Sérgio Moro and the task force of “Operation Car Wash,” the wide ranging corruption probe started in 2014 that led to the conviction and jailing of former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, among many other high-profile figures.

Moro, a former crusading anti-corruption judge, exchanged messages with members of the attorney general’s office, including Deltan Dellagnol, who coordinated the Operation Car Wash task force. Among the conversations, the report shows that Dellagnol was reticent about the robustness of evidence against da Silva, later convicted by Moro. Car Wash prosecutors also worried about the political impact of an interview between da Silva, in prison, and journalist Monica Bergamo near the 2018 election, which could help candidate Fernando Haddad, supported by da Silva.

More seriously, the messages show clear collusion between a judge and prosecutors to convict those involved in the operation.

Full article at The Washington Post’s website. Date of publication: 12/06/2019.