"Journalists from The Intercept will have to testify today [May 9] before the São Paulo Civil Police in an investigation carried out at the request of the Universal Church of Edir Macedo.
'The Church of Mr. Edir is furious that our story revealed secret documents indicating a possible money-laundering operation that, in just five years, has moved more than 33 billion reais [US $6.6 million].
They demand that the police investigate us to find out how we found those documents and who provided us with the material. And you know what is worse? The Public Prosecutor's Office of Sao Paulo accepted the request. Universal wants to know who our source is. This goes against our constitutional right to keep sources confidential, and the police want us to cooperate with it.
The law obliges us to assist. But obviously, when journalist Gilberto Nascimento and I walk into that room today, we will have only one answer for the police station and Universal: silence. We will always protect our sources, regardless of the implications.'"
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