Lula’s Senate leader denies wrongdoing in Master probe

In an interview with BandNews TV and in an official statement, the Workers’ Party senator from Bahia denied any suspicion that he had received improper benefits and called the measure disproportionate.

The operation was authorized by Justice André Mendonça of Brazil’s Supreme Court as part of investigations involving businessman Daniel Vorcaro, the former controlling shareholder of Banco Master. Investigators are looking into alleged benefits granted to public officials.

Wagner sought to draw a clear line around his legal status. He said he is not a defendant, has not been charged and faces no formal accusation related to the facts under investigation. He also said that, as government leader, he had instructed senators to vote against a measure that would have benefited Master.

Apartment purchase

One of the central points in the investigation involves an apartment that investigators suspect may have been received as a bribe. Wagner said the property was being purchased for his daughter, but the development was still under construction. For that reason, he said he asked businessman Augusto Lima, a former partner at Master, to make the initial purchase, with a commitment that Wagner would later buy it from him.

“I asked Augusto Lima to buy the apartment, and I would buy it back,” he said. The senator’s press office stressed that the property “was never part of the senator’s assets.”

Wagner used the same line of defense regarding the Federal Police seizure of $55,000 and €33,500. He said the money had a regular origin and came from accumulated daily allowances for official trips carried out during his mandate, which had not been used and were properly declared. “The money found came from daily allowances for trips,” he said.

Relationship with Vorcaro

The senator also sought to dispel the perception that he was close to Vorcaro. Wagner said the two met only twice: first, when the businessman introduced himself after becoming a partner of Augusto Lima, and later when Vorcaro was looking for someone to provide legal consulting services to Banco Master. In that context, Wagner said, he recommended former Supreme Court Justice Ricardo Lewandowski.

“My relationship with Vorcaro is practically nonexistent,” he said.

Although Wagner called the measure disproportionate, he said he respects the work of the institutions responsible for the investigation. “People with many more millions were not searched, but I respect the Federal Police and Justice André Mendonça,” he said. The senator added that he is following the case calmly and remains available to the authorities to provide any clarification, “with the certainty that the truth will prevail.”

Political support

On the political front, the government leader said he spoke with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva shortly after the operation was launched. Wagner said Lula called to express solidarity and reaffirm his political confidence in him.

“I spoke with President Lula today [Thursday], and I think it is unlikely he will change my position as leader,” he said.

“Lula called to express his solidarity with me and say he maintains his confidence.” Wagner, who plays a strategic role in the Lula administration’s political coordination in the Senate, ruled out any change in his plans and said he still intends to run for a Senate seat in 2026: “My Senate candidacy is absolutely still on.”

Asked about a proposal to create a congressional inquiry committee, known as a CPI, to investigate Master, Wagner confirmed that he had signed the request to set up the panel, even though he said he was unsure how much a congressional investigation could contribute.

“I signed the request for the Master CPI, even without knowing how it can contribute,” he said.

Augusto Lima’s defense

Augusto Lima’s defense took a similar position. In a statement to the press, his advisers said the Federal Police searches were unnecessary because the businessman has been available to the authorities for six months to clarify the facts under investigation.

The statement said the measures will help show that the facts examined at this stage of the investigation are strictly lawful. The defense also said Lima has always acted within the limits of the law, with transparency, technical responsibility and compliance with the rules governing the financial system and public administration.