Attorney General of MA points out 'network of oranges' and calls for removal of deputy from the state

The Attorney General of Maranhão Danilo José de Castro Ferreira requested the immediate removal, through a preliminary decision, of the vice-governor of Maranhão, Felipe Camarão (PT), for alleged connection with a money laundering scheme, unusual movement of millionaire values and crimes against public administration. The PT member criticized the leak of the investigation, which, according to him, has an “electoral objective” and said he will not accept “political persecution disguised as institutional action”.

The attorney general’s request was forwarded to the Maranhão Court of Justice. According to a document obtained by Estadão, Camarão allegedly used relatives and military police officers from his security detail to capture R$6.3 million and another R$4.7 million in luxury properties in São Luís. Ferreira maintains that the PT member benefited from a network of “oranges” to hide million-dollar transfers via Pix. According to him, the money that circulated in the account linked to Camarão is not salary, but comes from “income of another nature”, being incompatible with the declared income. The prosecutor also asked the court to find out who leaked the information protected by judicial secrecy.

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On Instagram, Camarão stated that he received “with indignation the criminal leak of the supposed request for removal”. He said he never had access to or was aware of the investigation on which the attorney general’s statement was based and said that the procedure has a “clear purpose of selective exposure and public embarrassment.”

The PT member pointed out the “strangeness” in Ferreira’s alleged proximity to Marcus Brandão, brother of governor Carlos Brandão, of whom he is deputy, but with whom he broke up at the end of 2025. Camarão stated that he will take legal action to investigate a “possible rigging” of the PGJ.

“My 25-year-old unblemished public record will not be tarnished by this type of practice. Maranhão cannot go back to a time when institutions were set up for the purpose of political pressure”, added Camarão.

Political frictions

The request for removal comes amid political friction between the wing linked to governor Carlos Brandão (no party) and the minister of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) Flávio Dino, former head of the Maranhão Executive. Linked to the magistrate, Camarão served in the secretariat during the two terms in which Dino commanded the government.

The two groups are competing for the support of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) in the race for the state Executive. This month, Carlos Brandão anticipated the definition of the PT’s approval and launched the pre-candidacy for the government of his nephew Orleans Brandão (MDB), of whom he wishes to boost his image as his successor. It was a new point of tension with Dino’s allies, whose supporters seek to consolidate Felipe Camarão’s candidacy.

On social media, this month, Camarão published images of Brandão at a political event in the past to refute the governor’s allegations that there was never an agreement for his candidacy. The vice stated that the head of the Executive of Maranhão disrespected an agreement with PT Nacional.

“We only won because of Lula/PT (guaranteed by my being the vice president) and the strength/popularity of Flávio Dino. It turns out that he will be DISCOMPLISHED for family reasons, because of the second job program for his nephew and for the betrayal of the people of Maranhão. For my part, I can only apologize for having helped to elect the neo oligarchy and tell the people: THEY WILL BE DEFEATED IN OCTOBER!”, wrote Camarão, in a post on Instagram.

The rupture gained strength after the leak of recordings of conversations in which Dino’s allies demanded that Brandão’s group comply with agreements signed during the 2024 election.

As O GLOBO showed, the PT state directory states that a decision on the name of the party in the race for the Palácio dos Leões will be made by Lula, but admits that the preferred scenario would be a third-way candidacy, which would unite the broken wings.