02/ 47Vorcaro: no evidence
With no evidence, the PGR did not pursue Vorcaro’s account about the Lula film
Daniel Vorcaro, owner of Banco Master, says he paid R$ 30 million toward a film about Lula at the request of João Vaccari Neto, the PT’s former treasurer[1]. The PGR found no evidence[2]. Lula denies it[1]. According to O Tempo, the PF also found no evidence in the proposed cooperation deal[2][3].
The timing
A story from June, 16 days before the election
Veja published Vorcaro’s account on October 9, 16 days before the runoff. The story is in a June annex that the PGR did not pursue[1]. The magazine itself writes that “there is no evidence” that Lula met Vorcaro[1].
Lula’s campaign called the report an “irresponsible electoral piece”[4]. Paulo Okamotto, former president of Instituto Lula, said the magazine publishes the story “once again, during an election period”[5].
What is known
It is Vorcaro’s word, without evidence
The story is in an annex submitted to the PGR in June with Vorcaro’s second proposed cooperation deal. The Prosecutor General’s Office rejected the proposal and did not pursue the case, citing a lack of evidence: according to Vorcaro, the payments were in cash[1][3]. That is why, the PGR says, he did not even give testimony[3]. According to PF officials interviewed by CNN, the PF rejected the cooperation deal for a lack of minimum elements of credibility[3].
Vorcaro has already had two proposed cooperation deals rejected[2]. The first failed because he withheld facts from investigators[1].
Whom he names
In Vorcaro’s version, Vaccari asked for the money, not Lula
João Vaccari Neto, the PT’s former treasurer: according to Vorcaro, he asked for R$ 30 million for the film and 10% of what Master raised from state-owned companies’ pension funds[1]. He did not respond to Veja or Poder360[1][6].
Jaques Wagner, then the government’s Senate leader: according to Vorcaro, he arranged his business partner’s first meeting with Vaccari[1]. He did not respond to Veja[1].
Augusto Lima, Vorcaro’s business partner and then Master’s CEO: according to Vorcaro, he approached the PT[1]. His defense called the account a “false narrative” and denies wrongdoing[6].
Paulo Okamotto, former president of Instituto Lula: according to Vorcaro, the cash went to the institute[1]. Okamotto told Poder360: “We never received funds to make the film”[5].
Alexandre Padilha, then minister of Institutional Relations, and his secretary Olavo Noleto: according to Vorcaro, they helped Master reach the funds. Both deny having a relationship with him[1].
And Lula
Lula denies it, and there is no evidence of a meeting
Lula said he “never requested or received any financial benefit or authorized third parties to receive funds from Vorcaro on his behalf”[1]. Secom had already denied any request from Lula to finance the film[2].
Messages cited by Veja refer to a meeting with Lula. The magazine itself writes: “there is no evidence that Lula actually had this meeting with Vorcaro”[1]. And Master did not manage to raise money from federal funds[1].
And Flávio
Flávio’s request does not depend on an informant’s word
According to Intercept, Flávio asked Vorcaro for US$ 24 million for “Dark Horse”, the film about his father; at least US$ 10.6 million was paid in six transfers between February and May 2025[7]. STF Justice André Mendonça named Flávio as a subject of investigation in the film inquiry[8]. No formal charges have been filed. Flávio says: “Zero public money. Zero Rouanet Law.”[7]
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References08 sources
- 01Veja · Vorcaro conta que liberou dinheiro para filme sobre Lula por negócios no governoVorcaro’s account and the people he names, the PGR’s lack of evidence and the cash payments, the failed cooperation proposals, the responses from Lula, Padilha and Noleto, the lack of response from Vaccari and Jaques Wagner, and the lack of evidence of the meeting.(opens in a new tab)
- 02O Tempo · Vorcaro cita R$ 30 milhões a filme de Lula, segundo revista, mas PF e PGR apontam falta de provasAccording to the newspaper, the PGR and PF found no minimum evidence; the two rejected cooperation proposals; Secom’s statement.(opens in a new tab)
- 03CNN Brasil · Vorcaro cita R$ 30 mi a filme de Lula, diz revista; PF vê delação sem provaThe PGR did not proceed for lack of evidence and Vorcaro did not testify; PF officials say the cooperation proposal was rejected for lack of credibility.(opens in a new tab)
- 04Poder360 · PT diz que reportagem da “Veja” é “peça eleitoral irresponsável”The statement from Lula’s campaign coordination team about the report.(opens in a new tab)
- 05Poder360 · Ex-presidente do Instituto Lula nega conhecer Vorcaro: "Tampouco me reuni"The response from Okamotto, former president of Instituto Lula, about the film and the election period.(opens in a new tab)
- 06Poder360 · Vorcaro financiou filme de Lula em troca de acesso a fundos, diz revistaAugusto Lima’s defense and the lack of response from Vaccari.(opens in a new tab)
- 07CNN Brasil · Flávio pediu R$ 134 mi a Vorcaro para filme de Bolsonaro, diz InterceptThe US$ 24 million request and US$ 10.6 million paid, first reported by Intercept, and Flávio’s response.(opens in a new tab)
- 08Agência Brasil · Mendonça incluiu Flávio Bolsonaro como investigado no caso Dark HorseFlávio being named a subject of investigation in the film inquiry.(opens in a new tab)