Veja reports Vorcaro paid Lula Institute; PGR, PF deny testimony

Brazilian magazine Veja published an article on October 9 stating that imprisoned banker Daniel Vorcaro claimed in a plea-bargain proposal to have paid 30 million reais in cash to the Lula Institute to finance a documentary by Oliver Stone. Vorcaro allegedly negotiated with former PT treasurer João Vaccari Neto for access to federal pension funds controlled by the party.

The Prosecutor General's Office (PGR) and Federal Police (PF) issued statements the same day denying that Vorcaro gave any deposition with that content. The PGR said no oral testimony occurred because the collaboration proposal was rejected for lack of evidence. The PF said it received no documents or annexes matching the magazine's description.

“This audio that went viral is a coordinated move to manipulate the elections and convince you that what Flávio did is not so serious or, at minimum, that everyone is the same and so why vote?”

Vorcaro's defense team said it does not recognize the audio or documents published by Veja, questioning their origin, authenticity, and integrity. Lawyers added that the banker never testified to the PF or PGR on the matter.

The Lula campaign called the report "staggering" and "irresponsible," announcing legal action against the magazine and Vorcaro. Senator Camilo Santana, campaign spokesperson, labeled the allegations a "lie" and a "farce."

Vice President Geraldo Alckmin backed an investigation but stressed the PGR rejected the plea deal due to "absolute lack of proof." Health Minister Alexandre Padilha accused Flávio Bolsonaro's campaign of weaponizing the story to create a false equivalence with the senator's own documented negotiations with Vorcaro for a film about Jair Bolsonaro.

Prosecutors suspect the audio may have been illegally recorded inside the prison where Vorcaro is held, raising questions about its admissibility and the timing of its release weeks before the runoff election.