← Back to feed

Valdemar contradicts Flávio on banker visit; Frias denies amendment misuse

24 sources · 26 May 2026 · Share coverage ·

verbatim from the press composed from multiple sources

PL president Valdemar Costa Neto contradicted Senator Flávio Bolsonaro's (PL-RJ) version of his visit to banker Daniel Vorcaro in November 2025 on Monday (25). According to Valdemar, in an interview with GloboNews, Flávio went to Vorcaro "to see if he could get the rest of the money" to finance the Dark Horse film, a biopic of Jair Bolsonaro. Last week, Flávio had said he visited the banker — then under house arrest — to "put an end to this story."

Press quotes (1)
A Gazeta

"O presidente nacional do PL, Valdemar Costa Neto, contradisse nesta segunda-feira (25) fala do senador e pré-candidato à Presidência Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ) sobre o motivo de ter visitado o banqueiro Daniel Vorcaro em novembro de 2025... Segundo Valdemar, o senador foi até Vorcaro para 'ver se conseguia o restante do dinheiro' para financiar o filme Dark Horse"

Meanwhile, Deputy Mário Frias (PL-SP) denied to the STF having used parliamentary amendments to finance the film's production. In a statement to Minister Flávio Dino, Frias said the suspicion of misappropriation is "false, devoid of any probative basis and defamatory." The deputy is under investigation in ADPF nº 854 for directing R$ 2 million to Instituto Conhecer Brasil, an entity linked to Go Up Entertainment, responsible for Dark Horse.

Press quotes (1)
Agência Brasil

"segundo os autos da Arguição de Descumprimento de Preceito Fundamental (ADPF) nº 854"

The STF investigation, initiated by a complaint from Deputy Tabata Amaral (PSB-SP), also targets other Bolsonarist parliamentarians. Deputy Valéria Bolsonaro (PL) directed R$ 100 thousand to Instituto Conhecer Brasil in December 2023, while Deputies Bia Kicis (PL-DF) and Marcos Pollon (PL-MS) allocated resources for projects linked to the "National Heroes" series via Go Up Entertainment, although both claim the amendments were not executed.

Press quotes (1)
Cnn Brasil

"In 2023, deputy Valéria Bolsonaro (PL), directed R$ 100 thousand for "acquisition of equipment" to "Instituto Conhecer Brasil", which received the funds in December of that year."

According to revelations by Intercept Brasil, Flávio negotiated R$ 134 million with Vorcaro for the film, of which R$ 61 million were transferred between February and May 2025. The senator departed for the United States on Sunday night, seeking a meeting with President Donald Trump to try to mitigate the political damage caused by the case.

Press quotes (1)
A Gazeta

"Segundo revelações do portal Intercept Brasil, R$ 61 milhões de cerca de R$ 134 milhões acertados entre Flávio e Daniel Vorcaro para o longa foram enviados entre fevereiro e maio de 2025."

1. What we know (1)

Valdemar Costa Neto contradicted Flávio Bolsonaro's version about the reason for visiting Vorcaro

4 sources A Gazeta Brasil 247 Diário de Pernambuco JC
2. Where coverage thins out (2)

Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.

Covered by only some sources (1)

Mário Frias is traveling abroad without official Chamber authorization

Did not cover: A Gazeta Brasil 247

Conflicting versions (1)

Reason for Flávio Bolsonaro's visit to Daniel Vorcaro

1 source — "Flávio visited Vorcaro to 'put an end' to the relationship": Flávio Bolsonaro, via Press
1 source — "Flávio visited Vorcaro to 'see if he could get the rest of the money": Valdemar Costa Neto, via Globonews
3. What we don't know yet (3)
  • What were the specific criteria used to select the beneficiary organizations for the parliamentary amendments?

    Why it's still unknown: Available documents do not detail the selection process for entities linked to the production company

    Did not cover: Folha G1
  • What is the current status of accountability for amendment resources allocated to Instituto Conhecer Brasil?

    Why it's still unknown: The Chamber informed that accountability is still ongoing, with no final results disclosed

  • What internal measures will PL take regarding the contradictions between Valdemar and Flávio about the meeting with Vorcaro?

    Why it's still unknown: Party leadership has not commented on the diverging versions

    Did not cover: Folha Estadao

All sources

24