The charges follow the breach of Brazilian government buildings on Jan. 8, 2023, following former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s 2022 election loss.
Brazil’s Department of Federal Police announced indictments on Nov. 21 against former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, and 36 others, on allegations they attempted to keep him in power through a violent coup d’état.
The charges follow a nearly two-year investigation into the Jan. 8, 2023, breach of the Brazilian federal government buildings, including its National Congress and Supreme Court.
“The investigations showed that the investigated parties structured themselves through a division of tasks, which allowed the individualization of conduct and the confirmation of the existence of the following groups,” Brazil’s federal police said in a Nov. 21 statement.
The federal police said the accused delegated tasks of the alleged conspiracy, including disinformation targeting the country’s electoral system, efforts to recruit military personnel to join in the plot, a legal team, an operational team to support the alleged coup as it began, an intelligence team, and another team tasked with using coercive measures to advance the alleged plot.
Bolsonaro has denied all claims that he tried to retain power after losing his 2022 reelection bid to the current Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
In a press statement following the indictment, Bolsonaro accused Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes of being behind the investigation. He alleged that de Moraes has altered the records of people who have testified and authorized arrests without charges, in a fishing expedition to advance the case.
“He does everything the law doesn’t mandate,” the former Brazilian president said.
Dozens of Bolsonaro’s current and former aides were also named in the indictment, including Gen. Walter Braga Netto, who was Bolsonaro’s 2022 running mate; former Brazilian Defense Minister and Army Gen. Paulo Sérgio Nogueira de Oliveira; Valdemar Costa Neto, the chairman of Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party; and his veteran former adviser, Gen. Augusto Heleno.
Brazilian authorities arrested four military officials and a federal police agent earlier this week as part of the investigation.
By Ryan Morgan
