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Brazilian Federal Police have formally accused former President Jair Bolsonaro and 36 of his allies, including former ministers and top aides, of participating in an attempted coup to subvert the results of the 2022 presidential election. This move marks the culmination of a lengthy investigation into efforts to keep the far-right leader in power after he lost to his rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The accusations were detailed in a sealed report submitted to the Supreme Court. According to the police findings, Bolsonaro and his inner circle were part of a criminal organization that worked to discredit Brazil's electronic voting system and laid the groundwork for a violent abolition of the democratic rule of law. The investigation concludes that Bolsonaro was aware of and personally involved in drafting documents that would declare a state of siege to prevent the peaceful transfer of power. This development represents a formal accusation from Brazil's federal police and a significant step in the legal proceedings against him.
The case will now be reviewed by Brazil's Prosecutor-General, Paulo Gonet, who has the authority to decide whether to formally charge Bolsonaro and the other individuals. If charges are filed and accepted by the Supreme Court, they will stand trial. The charges recommended by the police include attempting a coup d'état, which carries a potential prison sentence. The investigation unearthed evidence of an alleged coup plot involving top officials, who allegedly discussed plans to arrest Supreme Court justices and annul the election outcome.
Bolsonaro has consistently denied any wrongdoing, and his legal team is expected to challenge the accusations. This indictment is the most serious legal challenge to date for the former president, who has already been declared ineligible to run for public office until 2030 in a separate case related to his conduct during the 2022 campaign. The police accusation is part of a broader investigation into the attempted coup, which also examines the roles of military figures and financiers who supported the anti-democratic movement that culminated in the January 8, 2023, riots in Brasília.
