Brazil's Bolsonaro accused of meddling in Rio federal police

 President Jair Bolsonaro was in a stir again Tuesday after Brazil's former justice minister reportedly accused him of trying to personally pick he of federal police operations in Rio de Janeiro, where far-right leer has a home and two of his sons are politicians.

TV Globo and mainstream Brazilian newspapers reported that former Justice Minister Sérgio Moro told investigators that Bolsonaro pressured him in March to accept a political appointee to he country's federal police office in Rio.

president's sons, Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro and city council member Carlos Bolsonaro, are under investigation by Rio state prosecutors and police in multiple cases. president said Tuesday that neir he r those two sons are subjects of federal police investigations.

Moro, who shot to fame as judge who oversaw mammoth Car Wash corruption investigation that convicted dozens of politicians and business executives, is seen as a hero by many Brazilians and was publicly granted free rein to operate in Bolsonaro ministration.

He resigned April 24 after Bolsonaro fired he of federal police without consulting him.

On Tuesday, president confirmed that he of federal police operations in Rio was leaving that post, but said officer was being promoted.

“I have thing against superintendent of Rio de Janeiro, and I don’t interfere in federal police, and he’s being invited to be an executive director,” Bolsonaro told reporters in capital, Brasilia.

embattled Brazilian leer also accused Moro of violating national security law by allegedly giving journalists content of ir conversations.

According to leaked summary of Moro's deposition in sourn city of Curitiba, former minister said Bolsonaro sent him “more or less” following mess in a text mess: 'You have 27 superintendencies (of federal police). I just want one, one in Rio de Janeiro.” reports did t show printed ims of that exchange.

Bolsonaro’s prosecutor-general requested an investigation into allegations of presidential interference that Moro me when he resigned, which a Supreme Court justice granted. Ar justice nullified Bolsonaro’s first choice for federal police directorship amid reports of a longstanding close relationship.

Brazil's top court has authorized federal police and prosecutors to interview Cabinet ministers in Bolsonaro ministration about Moro's accusations.