I didn't monitor Dino, and Moraes' decision harms the entire press, says targeted journalist in Maranhão

He had his computer and cell phone seized in March by the Federal Police. The agency accessed his conversations with informants, who were the targets of search and seizure this Tuesday (11).

"They are trying to destroy me professionally, because given the revelation of my source at national level, who is the person who from now on will want to talk to me or give me information?", asks Luís Pablo in an interview with the reporter.

The texts he has published since 2011 on the Luís Pablo blog, presented as "independent journalism that bothers power", dealt with Dino's alleged irregular use of TJ-MA (Maranhão Court of Justice) and state government cars.

For him, Moraes' decision is a "serious precedent for all journalists in the country, who are at the mercy of being the target of an operation like the one that happened to me."

Luís Pablo also denies having been paid to publish reports and says that the amount of R$100,000 cited in the PF investigation refers to a loan from a friend.

When contacted by the report, Dino's office sent two old notes from the minister and one from the Maranhão Court of Justice denying irregularities. They state that security vehicles are used by the STF, in collaboration with the courts, based on rules from the court and the CNJ (National Council of Justice).

Dino's office says that "there was never any irregular use of an official vehicle" by the TJ-MA and that "an armored car was provided at the request of the STF Security Secretariat, within the scope of a cooperation agreement in force with all courts in the country." The minister claims to have asked for security measures to be expanded for him and his family.

Journalism entities criticized Moraes' decision and stated that cases of this type could result in intimidation of the work of the press.*

QUESTION - What was shown in the reports that motivated these legal measures?LUÍS PABLO - The irregular use of the official vehicle of the Court of Justice of Maranhão by family members of minister Flávio Dino. It was irregular because there was no administrative session from the STF to the Court of Justice granting the vehicle to him.

What was there was a document requesting only security support for the minister. Only after my reports did the STF forward a new document asking to transfer the vehicle to the minister.

Q - The investigation deals with suspected persecution of the minister and his family. During the preparation of the report, was there persecution of these people? LP - I never looked for any family member, nor was Minister Flávio Dino approached by me. I searched institutionally via email from the office and the STF, as well as via email from the Court of Justice asking for clarification, and no one responded to me.

Q - But was there monitoring during the investigation of the report? LP - When the operation took place in March, I was accused of monitoring Flávio Dino. Yesterday [Tuesday, 11], following a new decision by Minister Alexandre de Moraes, it was proven that I never monitored Dino. After revealing my source, it was proven that I received the source material. This statement that I was monitoring the minister does not exist.

Q - What was it like on the day the search and seizure took place at your house, in March? LP - It only lasted ten minutes because they came directly to collect just my work equipment. Then they left.

P - And what was your reaction at the time? LP - I was shocked, I felt intimidated by a decision that left me without my work equipment. I spent days without working, without my equipment. I felt censored by this decision.

Q - Did this change the work routine in any way? LP - It changed completely. I feel like a professionally damaged person. They are trying to destroy me professionally, because given the revelation of my source at a national level, who is the person who from now on will want to talk to me or give me information? None. How am I going to play the role of journalist without having the prerogative of not revealing my source?

P - Dino said he needed to reinforce his and his family's security. Did the report create insecurity for the minister? LP - The matter was of public interest, because I didn't investigate the person, I investigated the fact. And the fact is that the minister was using an official Court of Justice car in which even the fuel is paid for by public coffers using a corporate card.

Q - In a note, Mr. said that there is "deep concern" about the work carried out by the Federal Police in this case. What is this concern?LP - The concern is in relation to the report, which exposes an issue that does not match the reality regarding the acquisition of a property, and the reports that I published. I did not receive money to publish the reports. I played my role as a journalist.

Q - The investigation indicates suspicion that there was a payment of R$100,000 to a third party to pay off a property that Mr. had acquired.LP - There is no relationship between the acquisition of the property and the reports. This accusation is untrue, it is baseless. The property was acquired through a loan that the lawyer made to me, he is a personal friend of mine. I did not receive any money from the lawyer to publish the reports.

Q - The report says that there are indications that Mr. makes purchased reports. What is your position on this statement? LP - I did not receive [money], I reaffirm that I did not receive it, and there is no proof in the conversations I had with the lawyer that I received money to publish reports against Flávio Dino.

P - Journalism associations criticized A's decisions