London cigar photo tests Gonet’s account of ties to Vorcaro

London cigar photo tests Gonet’s account of ties to Vorcaro
A photograph showing Prosecutor General Paulo Gonet seated near banker Daniel Vorcaro with a cigar and whiskey glasses at a London gathering has become the central point of dispute over their relationship. The image, dated April 25, 2024 at the George Club, was recovered in conversations from Vorcaro’s phone and later published by O Globo; the Prosecutor General’s Office, or PGR, confirmed its authenticity but declined further comment.

Gonet’s position is that the occasion was his only in-person meeting with Vorcaro, held among several authorities rather than privately. He told Brazil’s Supreme Court that he had no close relationship with the banker: “I did not have a relationship of proximity with Mr. Vorcaro.” The PGR also says its actions in the Banco Master case have run against Vorcaro’s interests, including opposition to house arrest and rejection of a proposed cooperation agreement.

The contrasting account does not claim that the photograph itself proves wrongdoing. But it highlights messages attributed to lawyer Ciro Soares, including references to calls, a possible London trip and alleged communications from Gonet. The available records do not contain the contents of the calls or directly confirm that Gonet sent the messages relayed by Soares.

That distinction is central to the competing readings: critics see the photo and message trail as difficult to square with Gonet’s description of limited, casual contact; the PGR says third-party references cannot by themselves demonstrate intimacy, and notes Vorcaro was not under investigation when the 2024 event took place. A widely shared post on X mocked Gonet’s reputation while amplifying the cigar photograph, illustrating the political reaction rather than adding evidence about the encounter.

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