The Supreme Federal Court of Brazil (STF) recently revealed the testimonies of Marco Antonio Freire Gomes, former Army commander, and Carlos de Almeida Baptista, Jr., former Air Force commander. They allege that ex-president Jair Bolsonaro organized meetings to discuss a potential coup to maintain power after the 2022 presidential elections which he lost to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The statements were collected by the Federal Police during Operation Tempus Veritatis, an investigation into alleged coup attempts in 2022. Their release was authorized by Alexandre de Moraes, a justice of the Supreme Federal Court, following the dissemination of incomplete news regarding the case.
Freire Gomes reported to the police that in a meeting, Bolsonaro expressed his intention to form a commission to investigate the electoral process’s certification and legality. Among other potential measures, Bolsonaro allegedly floated the idea of a state of emergency decree. Freire Gomes claims to have resisted the concept from the start, cautioning Bolsonaro that such actions could bring legal ramifications.
Baptista corroborated these claims in his own interview with the federal police. He added that Admiral Almir Garnier, former commander of the Brazilian Navy, had offered his soldiers for Bolsonaro’s use, if required.
Following the disclosure of these testimonies, Bolsonaro publicly stated he was prepared to face any trial and dismissed the allegations as political persecution from the left.
Operation Tempus Veritatis has resulted in several legal actions against Bolsonaro. In addition to the testimonies, it has led to 33 search and seizure warrants, four preventive arrest warrants, and 48 precautionary measures. Bolsonaro was ordered to surrender his passport, remain within the country, and avoid contact with other individuals under investigation.
Aside from these, Bolsonaro faces yet another investigation from the Supreme Court for allegedly inciting his supporters in November 2022 to seize power by force, after his team unsuccessfully tried to discard votes from electronic voting machines, claiming fraud. This was followed by his supporters storming and vandalizing the National Congress, the STF, and the presidential palace in January 2023.
For more details, read the full detailed report here.