The Electoral Court of Rio de Janeiro has decided to keep the investigation involving former federal deputy and former Speaker of the House of Representatives Eduardo Cunha at the Supreme Federal Court (STF). The Regional Electoral Court (TRE-RJ) rejected an appeal from Cunha's defense and confirmed that the case will not return to the first instance, ensuring that the investigation continues at the STF.
The decision involves a process investigating suspicions linked to Cunha's reelection campaign for federal deputy in 2014. By keeping the case in the Supreme Federal Court (STF), the Regional Electoral Court of Rio de Janeiro (TRE-RJ) prevents, at least for now, any attempt to interrupt the investigation or change the location where it is being processed.
The case originated from a Federal Police investigation into possible irregularities in electoral campaign finance reports. Among the points analyzed are indications of the use of incorrect information, movement of funds of unclear origin, and suspicions of payments made outside of official campaign records.
The investigations also raise the possibility that the funds received were related to Cunha's political activities during his time as a federal deputy. According to investigators, there is evidence of a connection between campaign financing and his influence on decisions involving an investment fund linked to Caixa Econômica Federal (a Brazilian state-owned bank).
The main argument brought to the TRE-RJ (Regional Electoral Court of Rio de Janeiro) by Cunha's defense was not about the former congressman's guilt or innocence, but rather about which judicial body should handle the case. The defense argued that, since Cunha no longer holds public office, the process should be analyzed by a regular electoral judge.
The Regional Electoral Court of Rio de Janeiro (TRE-RJ), however, followed the understanding already established by the Supreme Court that investigations related to events that occurred during the term of office and linked to the functions of the position should remain in the Supreme Court, even after the end of the public office. According to the court, there are elements that indicate this connection in the case under analysis.
In rejecting the appeal, the president of the TRE-RJ (Regional Electoral Court of Rio de Janeiro), Judge Claudio Mello Tavares, pointed out flaws in the way the defense presented its arguments. According to the decision, there was no clear explanation of possible errors in the previous analysis, in addition to the repetition of points already rejected by the court itself.
Another aspect highlighted was the use of decisions from other cases without proper comparison to Cunha's specific situation, which, in the court's assessment, weakened the attempt to change the already established understanding.
Therefore, the appeal was dismissed without a reassessment of the main content of the allegations. In practice, the decision to send the case to the Supreme Court remains valid.
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