The Federal Police arrested former Minister of Education Milton Ribeiro and evangelical pastors Gilmar Santos and Arilton Moura–both linked to President Jair Bolsonaro– on suspect of operating a business counter in the ministry.
The operation further damages Bolsonaro about three months before the elections, by weakening the anti-corruption discourse in the campaign.
In March, the president had said that he would put his "face in fire" for Ribeiro, but days later the then head of the ministry ended up exonerated.
This Wednesday (22), Bolsonaro sought to detach himself from his former ally. He said that "he must answer for his actions."
The judge who ordered Ribeiro's preventive detention cites the possible crimes of passive corruption, malfeasance, administrative law and influence peddling.
The ex-minister's defense claims that the police operation was illegal. Gilmar and Arilton deny wrongdoing.
In an audio released in March by Folha, Ribeiro said that, at Bolsonaro's request, he prioritized friends of one of the pastors to release funds.
Translated by Kiratiana Freelon