Brazilian Assembleia de Deus leader warns evangelical deputies not to support Silveira’s arrest

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The leader of the Assembleia de Deus Vitória em Cristo church Pastor Silas Malafaia threatened any evangelical legislator who votes against deputy Daniel Silveira, when his arrest is discussed in the Chamber of Deputies plenary.

The deputy was arrested on Tuesday in flagrante delicto for threatening Federal Supreme Court (STF) justices and the democratic rule of law, according to Justice Alexandre de Moraes’ decision.

“A warning to the Evangelical Parliamentary Front! Any evangelical legislator who votes in favor of this legal aberration of keeping a deputy in jail for his statements, I will denounce to evangelicals to never be voted for by us again,” he said in the message. “What is at stake is the Democratic State of Law. Absurd,” he added.

In a video posted on social networks, Malafaia said he did not agree with the deputy’s words, but said Silveira’s arrest is “unconstitutional.”

According to Folha de S.Paulo newspaper, Chamber president Arthur Lira today told President Jair Bolsonaro that the deputy’s arrest should be maintained by the lower house plenary vote. A number of deputies are also negotiating a solution to relax Silveira’s arrest without challenging the STF, according to UOL. The vote is scheduled for 5 PM Friday.

Silveira posted a video attacking the Court’s justices – particularly Edson Fachin, Gilmar Mendes and Moraes himself. He was arrested by the Federal Police in Petrópolis, a city in Rio de Janeiro’s hilly region.

On social networks, Silveira confirmed that the Federal Police came to his home in Petrópolis. “To the leftists celebrating, relax, I have immunity. I’m only going to sleep away from home and prove to Brazil who the Supreme Court justices are. To be ‘arrested’ under these circumstances is a source of pride,” he posted.

He is under investigation in two inquiries: one on fake news and threats against STF members – the case in which the arrest was decreed – and the other on financing and organizing antidemocratic rallies in Brasília. In June, the deputy was the target of search and seizure warrants by the Federal Police and had his tax secrecy lifted by Moraes’ order.

In a deposition, the deputy denied producing or passing on messages that would encourage the Armed Forces to be hostile toward the STF or its justices.

STF votes to keep him in prison

In a short session, the STF justices unanimously voted to uphold Federal Deputy Daniel Silveira’s imprisonment. Moraes, rapporteur of the fake news inquiry, was the first to vote today and confirmed the maintenance of the arrest. Next, the remaining justices endorsed his vote.

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