Supreme Court greenlights Covid-era investigation

The Supreme Court moved on two fronts in response to the lower house’s approval of a constitutional amendment designed to insulate lawmakers from criminal accountability, which critics have called a real-world “Get Out of Jail Free card.”

Justice Dias Toffoli gave the House 10 days to justify the amendment’s substance and the procedural shortcuts it has taken. His decision comes as part of a challenge to the bill filed by a right-wing congressman.

Meanwhile, Justice Flávio Dino authorized the Federal Police to open an investigation into alleged crimes linked to the pandemic, targeting former President Jair Bolsonaro and several of his allies who coordinated Brazil’s Covid response (or lack thereof).