The preliminary inquiry follows a report of a possible $1 million State Department grant for groups critical of Brazil’s Supreme Court. Authorities say the transfer has not been confirmed, and the electoral court had found no concrete signs of interference.
Brazil’s Federal Police have begun a preliminary review of reports of possible US interference in the presidential election. Police chief Andrei Rodrigues said materials had been referred to the intelligence unit after a request from the Solicitor General’s Office. At the time of his comment, a formal order opening a police investigation had not yet been published.
The solicitor general’s office filed its request on October 1 after The Guardian reported a possible $1 million allocation from a US State Department human rights and democracy fund. The money was reportedly intended for a programme addressing the alleged politicization of justice and censorship in Brazil, including support for civil society groups critical of the Supreme Federal Court. It remains unclear whether the grant was actually transferred or merely proposed.
The office said foreign funding for systematic attacks on national sovereignty and public institutions could indicate outside interference, while also recognizing protections for free expression and criticism. On October 4, the head of Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court, Cássio Nunes Marques, said no concrete signs of foreign interference in the election had been identified at that point.
The review is taking place on the day of the first round of the presidential election, scheduled for October 4. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva had earlier said he asked Donald Trump not to interfere in the vote. Lula also raised concerns about possible influence through artificial intelligence without presenting specific evidence. He said he was concerned about Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s ties to rival Flávio Bolsonaro’s family, but stressed these were only suspicions. Lula said Trump had promised not to intervene. A candidate needs more than half of valid votes to win in the first round. A runoff is scheduled for October 25 if no one reaches that threshold.