Brazil seeks probe into reported U.S. election funding plan

Brazil’s attorney general has called for an investigation into reported U.S. plans to fund groups challenging the country’s Supreme Court, as officials raise concerns about foreign influence ahead of the 2026 presidential election. The reported funding has not been shown to have been approved or disbursed, and the available accounts do not establish that it affected the election. Jorge Messias said foreign political interests must not interfere with Brazilian institutions or decisions reserved for Brazilians. He made the comments after a report described a proposed $1 million award for civil society groups opposing what the proposal characterized as judicial overreach and censorship by the Supreme Court. The proposal was reportedly part of a broader effort to direct more than $175 million from a U.S. State Department fund to several initiatives. Brazilian authorities reportedly sought an investigation into possible wrongdoing related to the proposed funding. One account said the attorney general’s office filed a criminal complaint, but details of the complaint and its status were not provided.