Brazil justice Gonet accused of taking $1 million bribe

Brazil’s Supreme Court justice is at the center of a widening corruption scandal just weeks after he played a key role in jailing former President Jair Bolsonaro for election fraud. The justice, Paulo Gonet, was accused by federal prosecutors of taking bribes to influence court rulings in a scheme involving public contracts and judicial favors. The allegations emerged from wiretaps and documents seized in a raid on his home and office in Brasília last month.

The scandal comes at a fragile moment for Brazil’s judiciary. Gonet was one of the most visible figures in the Supreme Court’s anti-corruption task force, which has targeted Bolsonaro and his allies. His alleged involvement in bribery undermines public trust in a court that has been a bulwark against political interference in investigations. Analysts say the timing could sway public opinion as the country prepares for next year’s presidential election.

Prosecutors allege Gonet received at least $1 million in bribes tied to contracts for court security and IT services. They claim intermediaries funneled payments through offshore accounts and luxury real estate deals. The justice has denied any wrongdoing, calling the accusations “unfounded and politically motivated.” Other high-ranking judges and court staff are also under investigation, raising fears of deeper systemic rot.

What happens next could reshape Brazil’s legal landscape. If the charges hold, Gonet could be suspended or removed, forcing the court to reassign his pending cases—including Bolsonaro’s appeals. The scandal also risks politicizing the judiciary ahead of next year’s vote, where Bolsonaro’s allies are expected to challenge the legitimacy of the Supreme Court. For a country still healing from years of corruption scandals, this latest crisis is a fresh blow to its democratic institutions.