Jair Bolsonaro · Sergio Moro · Maurício Valeixo · Alexandre Ramagem · Alexandre de Moraes
On April 22, 2020 Bolsonaro wrote to Moro that Valeixo's departure was decided. On 4/24 the dismissal act appeared in the Official Gazette 'at his request,' with Moro's name, who said he had not signed it; the Presidency's General Secretariat later admitted having included Moro's name without his knowledge, as customary practice, and the act was republished without Moro's signature. Bolsonaro said Valeixo agreed to leave at his own request. The nomination of Alexandre Ramagem (then head of Abin) for the Federal Police (PF) was suspended on April 29, 2020 by a preliminary injunction from Alexandre de Moraes in MS 37.097, on indications of misuse of authority.
On April 29, 2020, in MS 37.097 (PDT), Justice Alexandre de Moraes suspended the decree appointing Alexandre Ramagem as PF director-general, pointing to the viability, 'in theory', of misuse of purpose, and cited Moro's public statements and the open inquiry (the express mention of the released messages was not confirmed; text of the decision not opened).
Source: Alexandre suspende nomeação de Ramagem para a chefia da PF — Consultor Jurídico, Apr. 29, 2020 · excerpt of the decision reproduced; 'MS 37.097' · open original ↗
In testimony, Moro said that ministry acts bearing the president's signature were previously signed by him in the SIDOF system and that he did not recall any act published without his signature.
Source: Governo admite que publicou assinatura de Moro na exoneração de Valeixo sem autorização — Jornal de Brasília, May 25, 2020 · quotation from the testimony · open original ↗
On April 24, 2020, Moro announced that he was leaving the Ministry of Justice, accusing Bolsonaro of insisting on changing the PF leadership and of wanting a person in personal contact in order to obtain information and intelligence reports, and said he had not signed the decree dismissing Valeixo.
Source: Leia a íntegra e assista ao discurso de demissão de Sergio Moro — Poder360, Apr. 24, 2020 · full speech (37 min 58 s) · open original ↗
Moro's testimony, released by Celso de Mello on May 4, 2020 and made public on May 5, reports that on April 22, 2020 Bolsonaro demanded the replacement of the Rio superintendency and of the director-general, said he needed trusted people to obtain intelligence reports and that he 'would replace the director-general and the minister himself'; Moro said the pressure returned in January 2020 with Ramagem's name.
Source: 'Você tem 27 superintendências, eu quero apenas uma, a do RJ': confira depoimento de Moro à PF — Tribuna de Jundiaí, May 5, 2020 · sections 'Pressure for changes', 'Changes in RJ and PE', and 'Ramagem's name' · open original ↗
On the same day, in an address of about 46 minutes, Bolsonaro denied having interfered in the PF, stated that it is his prerogative to dismiss the director-general, said Valeixo agreed to leave at his own request, and that Moro had conditioned the change on a nomination to the STF.
Source: Leia a íntegra do pronunciamento de Bolsonaro depois da saída de Moro — Poder360, Apr. 24, 2020 · full address · open original ↗
| Date | Body and case | Sphere | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr. 29, 2020 | STF · Rapporteur justice (preliminary injunction) MS 37.097 | Constitutional review | Suspended the decree appointing Alexandre Ramagem as director-general of the Federal Police (PF), because misuse of authority was 'in theory' viable; preliminary injunction, no ruling on the merits.Sources (1)On April 29, 2020, in MS 37.097 (PDT), Justice Alexandre de Moraes suspended the decree appointing Alexandre Ramagem as PF director-general, pointing to the viability, 'in theory', of misuse of purpose, and cited Moro's public statements and the open inquiry (the express mention of the released messages was not confirmed; text of the decision not opened). Judicial or administrative decisionSeveral independent sources Source: Alexandre suspende nomeação de Ramagem para a chefia da PF — Consultor Jurídico, Apr. 29, 2020 · excerpt of the decision reproduced; 'MS 37.097' · open original ↗ |
“Conviction” and “acquittal” apply only in the sphere indicated: a civil or disciplinary decision is not a criminal conviction.
Cases: Writ of Mandamus 37.097 (STF) — appointment of Alexandre Ramagem as PF director-general
Moro, o Valeixo sai nessa semana. Isto está decidido. Você pode dizer apenas a forma. A pedido ou ex oficio [sic]
Portal translation: Moro, Valeixo is leaving this week. This is decided. You can only say how. At his request or ex officio [sic]
Jair Bolsonaro · April 22, 2020 · Leaked message · WhatsApp message to Moro, reproduced by Estado de S. Paulo and Poder360
Leaked message authenticity: see profile
Context, original and sources →Presidente, sobre esse assunto precisamos conversar pessoalmente. Estou ah disposição para tanto
Portal translation: Mr. President, on this matter we need to talk in person. I am available for that
Sergio Moro · April 22, 2020 · Leaked message · WhatsApp message to Bolsonaro, reproduced by Estado de S. Paulo and Poder360
Leaked message authenticity: see profile
Context, original and sources →A exoneração que foi publicada eu fiquei sabendo pelo Diário Oficial pela madrugada. Eu não assinei esse decreto. […] Vi que depois a Secom afirmou que houve essa exoneração a pedido, mas isso de fato não é verdadeiro.
Portal translation: The dismissal that was published, I found out about in the Official Gazette in the early hours of the morning. I did not sign that decree. […] I saw that Secom afterwards stated that the dismissal was at his request, but that is in fact not true.
Sergio Moro · April 24, 2020 · Address · Address at the Ministry of Justice, transcribed by Poder360
Context, original and sources →Decretos assinados pelo Presidente da República e em concurso com o declarante, quando sua origem era um ato produzido pelo MJSP, o que seria o caso da exoneração do diretor Valeixo, sempre eram assinados previamente pelo declarante pelo sistema eletrônico SIDOF antes […]
Portal translation: Decrees signed by the President of the Republic jointly with the deponent, when their origin was an act produced by the MJSP, which would be the case of the dismissal of director Valeixo, were always signed beforehand by the deponent through the SIDOF electronic system […]
Sergio Moro · May 2, 2020 · Testimony · Testimony to the Federal Police (PF), Curitiba, in Inq 4831; excerpt published by Jornal de Brasília
Context, original and sources →À noite, eu e o Dr. Valeixo conversamos por telefone e ele concordou com a exoneração a pedido. Desculpe, senhor ministro, o senhor não vai me chamar de mentiroso.
Portal translation: In the evening, Dr. Valeixo and I spoke by phone and he agreed to the dismissal at his request. Sorry, Mr. Minister, you will not call me a liar.
Jair Bolsonaro · April 24, 2020 · Address · Address at the Planalto Palace, transcribed by Poder360
Context, original and sources →Em tese, apresenta-se viável a ocorrência de desvio de finalidade do ato presidencial de nomeação do Diretor da Polícia Federal, em inobservância aos princípios constitucionais da impessoalidade, da moralidade e do interesse público
Portal translation: In theory, it appears viable that there was misuse of purpose in the presidential act appointing the Director of the Federal Police, in disregard of the constitutional principles of impersonality, morality and public interest
Alexandre de Moraes · April 29, 2020 · Order · Preliminary injunction in MS 37.097, reproduced by Consultor Jurídico
Context, original and sources →Como Ramagem tinha ligações próximas com a família do presidente isso afetaria a credibilidade da Polícia Federal e do próprio governo, prejudicando até o presidente
Portal translation: Since Ramagem had close ties with the president's family, this would affect the credibility of the Federal Police and of the government itself, even harming the president
Sergio Moro · May 2, 2020 · Testimony · Testimony to the Federal Police (PF), Curitiba, in Inq 4831; excerpts published by the press
Context, original and sources →A WhatsApp message from Bolsonaro to Moro on April 22, 2020, 6:26 a.m., reproduced by Estado de S. Paulo from the phone Moro handed to the PF, said that Valeixo's departure was decided for that week; Moro replied at 6:37 a.m. asking for a personal conversation.
Excerpt: “Moro, o Valeixo sai nessa semana. Isto está decidido.”
Source: 'Moro, o Valeixo sai nessa semana. Isso está decidido', escreveu Bolsonaro — Poder360, May 23, 2020 · paragraphs 1 to 5 · open original ↗
News report · full text examined · accessed on Oct. 24, 2026
Limitations: Images of the messages not examined; text as per the newspaper's reproduction, cited by Poder360. Bolsonaro did not contest the authenticity in the sources read (we did not locate any contestation).
Valeixo's dismissal was published in the Official Gazette of April 24, 2020 as if it were 'at his own request' and, in the late afternoon, republished in an extra edition without that justification.
Source: 'Moro, o Valeixo sai nessa semana. Isso está decidido', escreveu Bolsonaro — Poder360, May 23, 2020 · section 'Valeixo's dismissal' · open original ↗
News report · full text examined · accessed on Oct. 24, 2026
Limitations: Editions of the Official Gazette (DOU) not consulted. The expression 'extra edition' and the absence of the justification do not appear in the Jornal de Brasília article (May 25, 2020), which confirms only the republication without Moro's signature (project audit).
In an official letter to the PF, the Presidency's General Secretariat admitted that Moro's name was included in Valeixo's dismissal decree without his knowledge, claiming routine practice and 'oversight', not illegality; the government republished the decree without the signature.
Source: Governo admite que publicou assinatura de Moro na exoneração de Valeixo sem autorização — Jornal de Brasília, May 25, 2020 · paragraphs 1 to 8 · open original ↗
News report · full text examined · accessed on Oct. 24, 2026
Limitations: Official letter not examined.
In testimony, Moro said that ministry acts bearing the president's signature were previously signed by him in the SIDOF system and that he did not recall any act published without his signature.
Source: Governo admite que publicou assinatura de Moro na exoneração de Valeixo sem autorização — Jornal de Brasília, May 25, 2020 · quotation from the testimony · open original ↗
News report · full text examined · accessed on Oct. 24, 2026
On April 29, 2020, in MS 37.097 (PDT), Justice Alexandre de Moraes suspended the decree appointing Alexandre Ramagem as PF director-general, pointing to the viability, 'in theory', of misuse of purpose, and cited Moro's public statements and the open inquiry (the express mention of the released messages was not confirmed; text of the decision not opened).
Excerpt: “Em tese, apresenta-se viável a ocorrência de desvio de finalidade do ato presidencial de nomeação do Diretor da Polícia Federal”
Source: Alexandre suspende nomeação de Ramagem para a chefia da PF — Consultor Jurídico, Apr. 29, 2020 · excerpt of the decision reproduced; 'MS 37.097' · open original ↗
News report · full text examined · accessed on Oct. 24, 2026
Limitations: Preliminary injunction, not a decision on the merits; reproduced by a news report, not read in the original. According to Conjur (April 29, 2020), the president revoked the appointment on the same day; formal decision declaring the writ moot not located.
Identifier: ep:exoneracao-valeixo-e-ramagem-2020
