On Friday, Minister Alexandre de Moraes of the Brazilian Supreme Court voted to make pastor Silas Malafaia a defendant facing charges of defamation and slander against the Army commander, General Tomás Paiva. The case is under review by the Supreme Court's First Panel, which began considering the Public Prosecutor's Office (PGR) complaint against Malafaia. The judges have until March 20 to submit their votes through the electronic system.

The charges stem from a speech made by Malafaia during a protest on April 6, 2025, at Avenida Paulista in São Paulo, where he allegedly insulted the dignity and decorum of several four-star generals, including the Army commander. Malafaia's remarks included calling the generals