Inquiry 4831 at the Supreme Federal Court (STF): from opening to reopening (2020–2026)
Celso de Mello · Alexandre de Moraes · Augusto Aras · Lindôra Araújo · Paulo Gonet · Jair Bolsonaro · Sergio Moro
Opened on April 27, 2020 by Celso de Mello at Aras's request. Testimony from Moro (May 2, 2020) and Bolsonaro (November 3, 2021). Final Federal Police (PF) report in March 2022: no proof of interference. The Office of the Prosecutor General (PGR) asks for dismissal on September 19, 2022. Moraes keeps the inquiry open; on May 17, 2024 he asks the PGR to consider ratifying the dismissal; on 10/15–16/2025 the PGR asks for further investigative steps and the STF reopens; according to Gazeta do Povo (April 12, 2026), the PF delivered a new report on April 2, 2026, which analyzed Inq 4781 and 4828 and again concluded there was no interference. Open according to the latest news located (April 12, 2026).
Sources (1)
According to Gazeta do Povo (April 12, 2026), the PF delivered to Moraes on April 2, 2026 a new report which, according to the article, analyzed Inq 4781 (fake news) and 4828 (anti-democratic acts) and concludes, for the second time, that Bolsonaro did not interfere in investigations that affected relatives and allies; Moraes kept the inquiry open and sent the report to Gonet.
Source: PF contraria Moraes e Gonet e repete que Bolsonaro não interferiu em investigações — Gazeta do Povo, Apr. 12, 2026 · paragraphs 1 to 8 · open original ↗
- Accusation
- No formal accusation recorded in this profile.
- Response
- We did not find a public response in the sources consulted.
Decisions
| Date | Body and case | Sphere | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr. 27, 2020 | STF · Justice rapporteur Pet 8802 (autuada depois como Inq 4831) | Procedural decision | Authorized the opening of the inquiry at the Prosecutor General's request to investigate the facts reported by Moro.Sources (1)On April 27, 2020, Celso de Mello authorized the opening of Inquiry 4831 at the request of Prosecutor General Augusto Aras, to investigate facts reported by Moro; Aras cited, in theory, ideological falsehood, coercion in the course of proceedings, administrative advocacy, malfeasance, obstruction of justice, and passive corruption. Judicial or administrative decisionProven in a document Source: Ministro Celso de Mello autoriza inquérito para apurar declarações do ex-ministro Sérgio Moro envolvendo o presidente da República — Supreme Federal Court (news portal), Apr. 27, 2020 · text of the news item · open original ↗ |
| May 22, 2020 | STF · Justice rapporteur Inq 4831 | Procedural decision | Decision reported on May 22, 2020. Released the video and transcript of the ministerial meeting of April 22, 2020.Sources (1)On May 22, 2020, Celso de Mello released to any citizen access to the video of the ministerial meeting of April 22, 2020 and to the transcription, with restrictions only on passages that mention two countries with diplomatic relations with Brazil. Judicial or administrative decisionProven in a document Source: Ministro Celso de Mello autoriza acesso a vídeo de reunião ministerial — Supreme Federal Court (news portal), May 22, 2020 · text of the news item · open original ↗ |
| Oct. 16, 2025 | STF · Justice rapporteur Inq 4831 | Procedural decision | Reopened the investigations at the request of the Office of the Prosecutor General (PGR), for supplementary investigative steps.Sources (1)On October 16, 2025 the STF reported that Moraes granted a PGR request and reopened the investigations in Inq 4831; the PGR, which in September 2022 had asked for closure, said on October 15, 2025 that the case file indicates the need for complementary measures. Judicial or administrative decisionProven in a document Source: A pedido da PGR, STF reabre investigações sobre suposta interferência de Jair Bolsonaro na PF — Supreme Federal Court (news portal), Oct. 16, 2025 · text of the news item · open original ↗ |
“Conviction” and “acquittal” apply only in the sphere indicated: a civil or disciplinary decision is not a criminal conviction.
Evidence
On April 27, 2020, Celso de Mello authorized the opening of Inquiry 4831 at the request of Prosecutor General Augusto Aras, to investigate facts reported by Moro; Aras cited, in theory, ideological falsehood, coercion in the course of proceedings, administrative advocacy, malfeasance, obstruction of justice, and passive corruption.
Excerpt: “para apuração de fatos noticiados pelo ex-ministro da Justiça e Segurança Pública Sérgio Moro”
Source: Ministro Celso de Mello autoriza inquérito para apurar declarações do ex-ministro Sérgio Moro envolvendo o presidente da República — Supreme Federal Court (news portal), Apr. 27, 2020 · text of the news item · open original ↗
Official document (primary) · full text examined · accessed on Oct. 24, 2026
Limitations: The STF's institutional news item was read; the decision itself was not read.
On May 2, 2020, Moro testified for about eight hours at the PF headquarters in Curitiba, reaffirmed the accusations, handed over audio recordings, e-mails, and conversations (and his cell phone), and was accompanied by three PGR prosecutors.
Source: Sergio Moro fala por 8 horas e reafirma acusações contra Bolsonaro — Poder360, May 3, 2020 · paragraphs 1 to 6 · open original ↗
News report · full text examined · accessed on Oct. 24, 2026
Limitations: Poder360 cites Estadão for the handing over of the materials; the content of the testimony was released by Celso de Mello on May 4, 2020 (fonte).
In testimony to the PF (November 3, 2021), Bolsonaro confirmed that in August 2019 he suggested to Moro changing the PF leadership in Rio and said he did so because the state is very complicated and he understood that the superintendent needed more freedom; he denied intending to obtain privileged information.
Excerpt: “o Estado do Rio de Janeiro é muito complicado”
Source: Bolsonaro diz que sugeriu mudança na PF do Rio porque Estado é 'complicado' — Poder360, Nov. 4, 2021 · paragraphs 3 to 6 · open original ↗
News report · full text examined · accessed on Oct. 24, 2026
Limitations: Record of the testimony not examined; the report reproduces it in excerpts.
On July 20, 2021, Alexandre de Moraes extended Inq 4831 by 90 days; the full court was due to resume on September 29 the appeal against the decision that denied Bolsonaro the option of testifying in writing.
Source: Ministro prorroga inquérito que apura suposta interferência de Bolsonaro na PF — Supreme Federal Court (news portal), July 20, 2021 · text of the news item · open original ↗
Official document (primary) · full text examined · accessed on Oct. 24, 2026
Limitations: STF news item read (publication date July 20, 2021); the decision was not read.
In March 2022 the PF concluded that Bolsonaro did not interfere in the force and recommended closing the case; the report states that 18 people were heard and that no consistent evidence was found.
Excerpt: “Nenhuma prova consistente para a subsunção penal foi encontrada.”
Source: Moraes pede que PGR avalie arquivamento de inquérito contra Bolsonaro — Agência Brasil (EBC, a public company), May 17, 2024 · quotation from the report · open original ↗
News report · full text examined · accessed on Oct. 24, 2026
Limitations: Report (Poder360 attachment, March 2022) not read. Agência Brasil dates the PGR's request for closure to 2020; Poder360 dates it to September 19, 2022 — Poder360's date prevails (the outlet that links the PDF of the request).
On September 19, 2022, Deputy Prosecutor General Lindôra Araújo asked the STF to close the inquiry, seeing no new elements that would allow an indictment against Bolsonaro.
Source: PGR: Bolsonaro não cometeu crime em caso de interferência na PF — Poder360, Sept. 19, 2022 · paragraphs 1 to 3 · open original ↗
News report · full text examined · accessed on Oct. 24, 2026
Limitations: The STF states only 'September 2022' for the request for closure; the date of September 19, 2022 comes from Poder360. Agência Brasil (2024) writes 'in 2020' for the same request, which contradicts the other sources. The PDF of the request was not read.
On May 17, 2024, Moraes asked Prosecutor General Paulo Gonet to consider ratifying the request to close the inquiry.
Source: Moraes pede que PGR avalie arquivamento de inquérito contra Bolsonaro — Agência Brasil (EBC, a public company), May 17, 2024 · paragraphs 1 and 2 · open original ↗
News report · full text examined · accessed on Oct. 24, 2026
On October 16, 2025 the STF reported that Moraes granted a PGR request and reopened the investigations in Inq 4831; the PGR, which in September 2022 had asked for closure, said on October 15, 2025 that the case file indicates the need for complementary measures.
Excerpt: “a análise dos autos indica a necessidade de diligências complementares”
Source: A pedido da PGR, STF reabre investigações sobre suposta interferência de Jair Bolsonaro na PF — Supreme Federal Court (news portal), Oct. 16, 2025 · text of the news item · open original ↗
Official document (primary) · full text examined · accessed on Oct. 24, 2026
Limitations: STF news item read; order not read.
According to Gazeta do Povo (April 12, 2026), the PF delivered to Moraes on April 2, 2026 a new report which, according to the article, analyzed Inq 4781 (fake news) and 4828 (anti-democratic acts) and concludes, for the second time, that Bolsonaro did not interfere in investigations that affected relatives and allies; Moraes kept the inquiry open and sent the report to Gonet.
Source: PF contraria Moraes e Gonet e repete que Bolsonaro não interferiu em investigações — Gazeta do Povo, Apr. 12, 2026 · paragraphs 1 to 8 · open original ↗
News report · full text examined · accessed on Oct. 24, 2026
Limitations: Report not read. The article presents the inquiry from the standpoint that the PF contradicted Moraes and Gonet; the text carries no position from Gonet after the report. Nothing after April 12, 2026 was checked (PGR statement or Moraes decision not located; the check at the STF was not done).
Identifier: ep:inquerito-4831-stf