In a significant legal development, Brazil’s federal police have indicted former President Jair Bolsonaro and 36 others in relation to an attempted coup following the 2022 elections. Bolsonaro, alongside former key ministers, faces charges of violent abolition of the Democratic State of Law, coup d’état, and forming a criminal organization with the intent of maintaining power against election results.
The investigation, which included breaking telematic, telephone, banking, and tax confidentiality, culminated in the indictment, sanctioned by the Supreme Federal Court. This legal action aims to preempt misinformation about the investigation’s outcomes. Among those charged are high-profile figures from Bolsonaro’s administration, including Anderson Gustavo Torres, Augusto Heleno Ribeiro Pereira, and Walter Braga Netto.
This indictment is also tied to the alleged involvement of Bolsonaro in the January 8, 2023 riots, which purportedly aimed to reverse the election result illegitimately. Bolsonaro had previously faced legal scrutiny for inaccurately recording COVID-19 vaccination data for travel purposes during the pandemic.
Bolsonaro has publicly criticized Supreme Court justice Alexandre de Moraes, accusing him of undermining democracy. On his social media account, Bolsonaro suggested that Moraes targets democracy rather than his person. In light of these legal challenges, Bolsonaro’s recent remarks reflect tension between the former president and the current judiciary’s actions.