Janones corruption scandal: Lula's digital strategist admitted to taking part of his advisors' salaries

The Brazilian deputy André Janones, one of the main digital strategists of the dictator Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, met this Monday with Cristina Kirchner and Sergio Massa to share his electoral experience in digital operations ahead of 2027. However, the legislator has a significant judicial background: he admitted to facts related to a scheme of appropriation of resources from his advisors and had to pay more than 157,000 reais after reaching an agreement with the Brazilian Justice.

The case, known in Brazil as "rachadinha", came to light in November 2023, when the media outlet Metrópoles released a recording made in 2019. In the audio, Janones explained to employees in his office that some would receive higher salaries and that, in return, they would help him pay off the personal debts he had accumulated during his 2016 electoral campaign.

"I think it's fair that those people also participate with me in that reconstruction", the deputy stated referring to the recovery of his assets. In the same conversation, he claimed that he had lost a house, a car, and his savings during that campaign. Far from questioning the mechanism he proposed, he explicitly stated: "I do not consider that to be corruption".

After the recording became known, Janones publicly denied having received money from his advisors and claimed that the audio had been manipulated. However, the judicial investigation progressed and the Supreme Federal Court (STF) confirmed that the legislator acknowledged having used the credit card of one of his collaborators to cover personal expenses, while the employee took care of the bills.

On March 19, 2025, Minister Luiz Fux, a member of the STF, homologated a non-prosecution agreement between Janones and the Attorney General's Office (PGR). The agreement established a compensation of 131,511 reais to the Chamber of Deputies and an additional payment of approximately 26,302 reais. In September 2026, the Attorney's Office confirmed that Janones had paid the agreed 157,813.76 reais and requested the extinction of his criminal responsibility. The agreement avoided a judicial conviction.

The episode is not the only controversial background of the Brazilian leader. His ex-partner, Leandra Guedes, obtained a protective court order after reporting threats related to the dissemination of intimate images. The court prohibited the deputy from coming within 300 meters of her and disclosing that material. This is a different procedure from the case regarding the "rachadinha".

These backgrounds have regained relevance with his arrival in Argentina. Janones, known as the "general of Lula's Army" for his role in organizing a digital community of millions of supporters of the regime, held meetings with Sergio Massa and Cristina Kirchner on November 2 to organize the digital campaign of Kirchnerism.