The Federal Police (PF) reported on Wednesday (20) that it indicted former President Jair Bolsonaro and his son, federal Deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL-SP), for the crimes of coercion in the course of proceedings and attempted abolition of the Democratic Rule of Law.
The decision was made after the PF concluded investigations into Eduardo’s actions with the government of US President Donald Trump to promote retaliatory measures against the Brazilian government and Supreme Court justices.
The US government announced in recent months a series of actions against Brazil and Brazilian authorities, such as a 50% tariff hike on imports of the country’s products, a commercial investigation against Pix, and financial sanctions against Minister Alexandre de Moraes under the Magnitsky Act.
Trump and members of his government claim that Bolsonaro is the target of a “witch hunt” and that Moraes acts against freedom of expression and American companies that manage social networks.
In May, the opening of the PF investigation against Eduardo and Jair Bolsonaro was requested to the Supreme Court by the Attorney General of the Republic (PGR), Paulo Gonet, to probe the alleged actions of the congressman to incite the US government to adopt measures against Moraes, chosen as rapporteur of the case also for leading the actions of the coup plot and the fake news inquiry.
Eduardo requested a 122-day leave from his parliamentary term in March and moved to the United States, alleging political persecution. A request for cassation of his mandate was sent by Chamber President Hugo Motta (Republicanos) to the House Ethics Committee last Friday (16), after representations filed by PT and PSOL.
In this process, former President Jair Bolsonaro is investigated for sending funds, via Pix, to cover his son’s stay abroad while he sought sanctions aimed at pressuring the Brazilian judiciary.
Trial
Former President Bolsonaro is also a defendant in the criminal action of the coup plot at the Supreme Court, whose trial is scheduled for September 2. On this day, those indicted as members of nucleus 1 in the criminal action will be judged, identified as leaders of the conspiracy that, according to the PF and PGR, sought to overturn the 2022 election results and culminated in the attacks on the headquarters of the Three Powers on January 8, 2023.
Jair Bolsonaro and seven other allies will be in the dock: Alexandre Ramagem, former director of the Brazilian Intelligence Agency (Abin); Almir Garnier, former Navy commander; Anderson Torres, former Justice Minister and former Federal District security secretary; Augusto Heleno, former minister of the Institutional Security Office (GSI); Paulo Sérgio Nogueira, former Defense Minister; Walter Braga Netto, former Bolsonaro minister and 2022 running mate candidate; Mauro Cid, former aide-de-camp to Bolsonaro;
In this action, they face charges of armed criminal organization, attempted violent abolition of the Democratic Rule of Law, coup d’état, qualified damage by violence and serious threat, and deterioration of listed heritage.
The exception is the case of former Abin director Alexandre Ramagem, who is currently a federal deputy and benefited from a Chamber of Deputies decision that suspended from the process the crimes occurring after his inauguration. Ramagem continues to face charges of coup d’état, armed criminal organization, and attempted abolition of the Democratic Rule of Law.
The other three nuclei of processed defendants have criminal actions in the final allegations phase, the last stage before trial, which is expected to occur later this year.
Source: Agência Brasil