Lula administration asks police to trace US money days before the vote

Brazil's Solicitor General's Office asked the Federal Police and the Federal Prosecution Office on Thursday to investigate a USD 1 million US State Department grant for a program called "Countering Lawfare and Censorship in Brazil," filing a criminal complaint days before Sunday's first-round presidential vote.

The complaint leans on a Sept. 30 Guardian report that traced the money to the State Department's Human Rights and Democracy Fund. Government lawyers argue that the grant would bankroll civil society groups working to discredit the Supreme Court. 

They concede that criticizing judges is protected speech, then reach for the Constitution's sovereignty and non-intervention clauses and its ban on foreign funding of political parties. Investigators are asked to identify the Brazilian recipients, who could face criminal liability. Washington denies any attempt to interfere.