Minister Dias Toffoli stepped down from the Master case relatoria at the STF after a closed meeting with other ministers, convened by President Edson Fachin due to a Police Federal report arguing his suspicion. The Court issued a joint note stating no impediment exists, and the relatoria was reassigned to André Mendonça. Parties and police delegates' associations reacted in defense of judicial institutionalism.
On February 13, 2026, the Supreme Federal Court (STF) held a closed meeting with ten ministers to discuss a 200-page Police Federal (PF) report arguing the suspicion of Minister Dias Toffoli in the relatoria of the Master case, involving alleged irregularities at Banco Master. The meeting, convened by President Edson Fachin after the PF found messages on Daniel Vorcaro's cell phone mentioning Toffoli, ended with Toffoli's decision to step down, now under relatoria of André Mendonça, after a draw.
Eight of the ten ministers expressed support for Toffoli's continuation, as reported by the Poder360 portal, which published excerpts from the meeting's recording, raising leak suspicions – categorically denied by Toffoli, who stated: “Of course not”. Criticisms of the PF were voiced: Gilmar Mendes said the police wanted to “retaliate” Toffoli's decisions; Alexandre de Moraes called the investigation “illegal”; Flávio Dino labeled the report “legal garbage” and proposed the joint support note in exchange for Toffoli's voluntary exit to preserve the Court's image. Cármen Lúcia expressed concern: “Every taxi driver I pick up speaks ill of the Supreme Court. The population is against the Supreme Court”.
Others, like Luiz Fux, declared trust in Toffoli, and Kassio Nunes Marques called the argument “legal nothing”. The STF note reinforced: “non-existence of suspicion or impediment”. In response, the União Progressista Federation (PP and União Brasil), via Ciro Nogueira and Antonio Rueda, published a note defending Toffoli's integrity and criticizing narratives that “attack the pillars of our own democratic system”. Solidariedade repudiated the “moral lynching”.
In parallel, the National Association of Federal Police Delegates (ADPF) and Fenadepol sent a letter to Chamber President Hugo Motta, requesting that delegates have the right to appeal judicial decisions and argue suspicion of authorities in inquiries. The entities highlighted: “The Police Delegate is impartial: Their action is technical, scientific, and unbiased. The Delegate does not seek to convict or acquit; seeks to clarify the fact”.
