Attorney General Paulo Gonet charged former Minas Gerais Governor Romeu Zema at the Superior Court of Justice on Friday (15) for defamation against STF Justice Gilmar Mendes. The charges are based on satirical videos titled "The Untouchables" published by Zema in April, depicting justices as puppets in conversations about the Master case. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"A Procuradoria-Geral da República (PGR) denunciou nesta sexta-feira (15) o ex-governador de Minas Gerais Romeu Zema ao Superior Tribunal de Justiça (STJ) pelo crime de calúnia contra o ministro do Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF) Gilmar Mendes."
In the contested video, puppets representing Gilmar Mendes and Dias Toffoli simulated a negotiation — Toffoli's puppet asked for the annulment of court-ordered disclosure of his company's records approved by the Organized Crime Congressional Committee, while Gilmar's responded he would annul them in exchange for "a courtesy at the Tayayá resort." The publication reached 2.8 million views on Instagram and 487,000 on X in one month, according to the PGR. ✓
Press quotes (2)
"Em abril, Zema publicou em suas redes sociais um vídeo em que bonecos com vozes semelhantes às de Gilmar e Toffoli conversavam sobre o caso Master. O boneco de Dias Toffoli telefona para Gilmar e pede a ele que anule as quebras de sigilo de sua empresa, então aprovadas na CPI do Crime Organizado do Senado. Com um diálogo marcado por ironias e caricaturas, Gilmar responde que anularia as quebras e pede em troca uma cortesia no resort Tayayá"
"Os danos à imagem do ministro teriam sido ampliados pelo alcance da publicação, que, em um mês, atingiu 2,8 milhões de visualizações no Instagram e 487 mil no X (antigo Twitter)."
Gonet framed the conduct as aggravated defamation (Article 138 of the Penal Code) and requested compensation of 100 minimum wages (R$ 162,000) for moral damages. "By falsely attributing to Justice Gilmar Mendes the practice of passive corruption, the defamation crime was committed," states the charges. The case reached the PGR after Gilmar requested Alexandre de Moraes to include Zema in the fake news inquiry. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"No documento protocolado no STJ, a PGR pede que Zema pague uma indenização de 100 salários-mínimos, o que equivale a R$ 162 mil, devido à gravidade da calúnia. [...] Ao atribuir falsamente ao Ministro Gilmar Mendes a prática de corrupção passiva, fez incidir o tipo de calúnia, previsto no art. 138 do Código Penal, que pune a imputação falsa de fato definido como crime."
In a statement, Zema reaffirmed the rhetoric of the videos: "The untouchables don't accept criticism. The untouchables don't accept humor. If they're bothered by satire, the cap must fit. I won't back down a millimeter." The case awaits assignment to a rapporteur at the STJ. ✓
Press quotes (1)
""Os intocáveis não aceitam críticas. Os intocáveis não aceitam o humor. Os intocáveis não querem prestar contas de seus atos. Os intocáveis se julgam acima dos demais brasileiros. Se estão incomodados com uma sátira, deve ser que a carapuça serviu. Não vou recuar um milímetro", afirma o texto."
Paulo Gonet charged Romeu Zema at STJ for defamation against Gilmar Mendes on May 15, 2026
The charges are based on satirical videos 'The Untouchables' with puppets representing STF justices
Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.
Covered by only some sources (1)
Paulo Gonet was Gilmar Mendes' business partner at IDP Institute and maintains family ties (son works in Gilmar's office)
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Which rapporteur will be drawn at STJ to judge the charges against Zema?
Why it's still unknown: The PGR's manifestation was filed but no rapporteur has been designated yet
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How does Paulo Gonet justify prosecuting Gilmar Mendes given their history of business partnership and family ties?
Why it's still unknown: The press reported extensive ties between Gonet and Gilmar (former partners at IDP, Gonet's son works in Gilmar's office), but there's no official statement about potential impediment
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What is the complete content of 'The Untouchables' videos that motivated the charges?
Why it's still unknown: The press describes excerpts of the puppet dialogue but doesn't reproduce the complete content of the satirical videos