Following his January 22 defense of the STF's handling, President Edson Fachin issued a January 25 statement slamming media coverage of the Banco Master fraud case as an attack on the court's authority and democracy. The move has ignited debate, with columnists decrying it as shielding judges amid reported irregularities like contracts and personal ties.
On January 25, 2026, Supreme Court Justice Edson Fachin, president of Brazil's STF, released a statement addressing media coverage of the Banco Master case—a fraud probe involving banker Daniel Vorcaro and Justice Dias Toffoli's reported ties, following Toffoli's orders for investigator depositions. This came days after Fachin's January 22 technical note defending monocratic decisions during recess and rejecting threats to the institution.
Fachin stated: "Whoever tries to demoralize the STF to erode its authority, in order to provoke chaos and institutional dilution, is attacking the very heart of constitutional democracy and the rule of law. The Supreme Court acts by constitutional mandate, and no political, corporate, or media pressure can revoke that role."
The statement portrays journalistic reporting as undermining the court and rule of law. Columnists like Lygia Maria of Folha de S.Paulo called it shameful corporatism, arguing journalism exposes facts needing scrutiny, such as a multimillion-dollar contract between Banco Master and the law firm of Justice Alexandre de Moraes' wife; links between bank-related funds and a resort co-owned by Toffoli's brothers; Toffoli's visits there; and the brothers' company headquarters at a family residence, unbeknownst to Toffoli's sister-in-law.
Critics emphasize reporting informs citizens without aiming to topple institutions. Yet the STF frames itself as victimized, echoing patterns in cases like the 2024 fake news inquiry, where Moraes investigated a Folha leak as organized crime against democracy—seen by detractors as curbing scrutiny.
