Brazilian Federal Police Indict Bolsonaro and 36 Allies for Alleged Coup Attempt

The Brazilian Federal Police indicted former President Jair Bolsonaro and 36 others on Thursday, accusing them of attempting a coup after the 2022 presidential elections.

For the past two years, the Federal Police have investigated Bolsonaro and his loyalists, believed to be part of a criminal organization that aimed to violently overturn the election results, which saw Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Geraldo Alckmin elected as president and vice president, respectively.

The investigation culminated in the indictment of Bolsonaro and 36 collaborators, including advisors and former ministers from his administration, all facing charges related to attempting to violently dismantle Brazil’s democratic system.

Among those implicated is Walter Braga Neto, former Minister of Defense, Chief of Staff, and vice-presidential candidate in Bolsonaro’s reelection bid. Neto is accused of planning violent actions against military personnel who opposed the coup.

The investigation revealed that the conspirators were organized into six distinct groups: disinformation and attacks on the electoral system, incitement of military personnel to support the coup, legal strategies, operational support, intelligence operations, and a command center for enforcing coercive actions.

The report, spanning over 800 pages, has been submitted to the Brazilian Supreme Court, which will decide whether to bring formal charges against the accused. If accepted, Bolsonaro and his allies will face trial before the Court.