Federal police have indicted former human rights minister Silvio Almeida in an investigation into allegations of sexual assault and harassment against him. Although the case is classified, the PF report has been sent to the Federal Supreme Court (STF) and the rapporteur of the case, Minister Andrés Mendonça, has already forwarded the case for analysis by the Attorney General’s Department (PGR).
According to sources following the case, the latest charges were filed in connection with sexual harassment charges. When the incident came to light in 2024, the minister denied any accusations. Almeida was called to his defense but did not speak out.
The indictment of Silvio Almeida effectively means that the police have evidence of the authorship of the crime. This step occurs during the investigation and precedes the initiation of charges or criminal proceedings. Only after the case is investigated more deeply can the former minister be charged with or without a crime and stand trial.
Almeida is under investigation into whether he committed crimes of harassment and sexual harassment against some women, including Racial Equality Minister Aniel Franco. At the time, the president considered the minister’s stay to be “unsustainable” given the seriousness of the allegations affecting women’s rights protection, one of the central themes of the government’s agenda.
In September 2024, the organization Me to Brazil released a document confirming that it had received complaints from women against Almeida. They didn’t want to identify themselves. “They were supported through the organization’s service channels and received psychological and legal assistance,” the organization’s memo said.
In an interview with GLOBO published in October, Aniel called the sexual harassment “unacceptable” and said it “took me a while to believe” that she was a victim of the former minister.
–They were rude. I can’t go into details because this is a statement to the federal police, but there were some statements and attitudes that I disagree with. It took me a while to believe that. I think that’s why it took me so long to speak up when I was exposed. It was also disappointing for me. I kept thinking about it for months. “Did I make a mistake? Did I do something I shouldn’t have done?” I’m not giving you any conditions, but where could you end a relationship like this? A bunch of women approached me and one of them said: “I’ve lived this. I’ve been silent for 40 years and now I have the courage to speak out.” That’s why I thought this silence had to end, she said.
The STF is investigating the crime, which allegedly occurred when Almeida was still a minister in Lula’s government.
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