Brazilian Federal Police was indicted On Thursday, conservative former President Jair Bolsonaro and 36 others were indicted on charges of plotting to poison President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and stage a coup in 2022.
Federal police allege that Bolsonaro conspired with 36 other indictees in the days after his ouster. defeat Oppose Lula in the October 2022 presidential election, overturn the results, and assassinate then-president-elect Lula, then-vice president-elect Gerard Alkmin, and Supreme Federal Tribunal (STF) Minister Alexandre de Moraes. did.
List of men indicted alongside Bolsonaro Contains They include Bolsonaro's former deputy Mauro Cid (reportedly the “whistleblower” in the case), the leader of Bolsonaro's liberal party Valdemar Costa Neto, several former members of Bolsonaro's government, and military officials. It will be done. Bolsonaro, According to According to a police indictment, the suspect allegedly operated as a “leader of a criminal organization” with the intention of remaining in power after losing the election in late 2022.
Brazil's federal government said: “Evidence shows multiple investigations carried out over nearly two years, based on computer, telephone, banking, tax secrecy, plea bargaining, searches, seizures, and other measures officially recognized by judicial authorities.'' This was obtained through a police investigation.” Police announced this to officials on Thursday. statement.
The charges include “coup,” “violent abolition of the democratic rule of law,” and “organized crime.” If found guilty, each charge reportedly He could be sentenced to three to 12 years in prison.
Brazilian news outlets report that according to an 884-page police report, a group of military personnel from the “Black Children” special forces reportedly The aim was to stage a coup d'état and prevent the establishment of Lula's government. The plot is said to have included the murders of Mr. Lula, Mr. Alcumin, and Mr. de Moraes. The assassination plot, dubbed “The Green and Yellow Dagger,” was said to have been scheduled to be carried out on December 15, 2022, two weeks before Lula's inauguration on January 1, 2023.
“The plans developed by the Targets detail the human and military resources needed to carry out their actions using sophisticated military operations techniques, and then “To manage conflicts within the organization that arose as a result of his actions, which included the establishment of his own integrated 'Organizational Crisis Management Room,'” the federal police said. said.
CNN Brazil reported A federal police investigation revealed that a document purporting to be an assassination plot was printed on November 9, 2022 at the Alvorada Palace, the presidential palace.
The document was reportedly printed about a week after Lula defeated Bolsonaro in the October 2022 presidential runoff. Bolsonaro, who resigned at the time, was still residing in Alvorada at the time the document was allegedly printed. The document describing the plan is said to have been printed for the second time on December 6, 2022 at the presidential palace, Planalto.
Hours after the indictment, Bolsonaro issued a statement to Brazilian media. metropole He blamed STF Minister de Moraes, who reported the incident.
“Minister Alexandre de Moraes is directing the entire investigation, coordinating testimony, making arrests without charge, sifting through evidence, and setting up a very creative advisory board. We will do everything we can,” Bolsonaro said.
“We need to see what this federal charge is. We'll wait for the lawyers. Obviously, this will go to the attorney general's office,” he continued. ” [Attorney General’s Office] The battle begins from there. I can't expect anything from a team that uses their creativity to criticize me. ”
Mr. Bolsonaro also said this. copy This is part of the statement he released to Metropoles on his official Twitter account.
big city Confirmed On Friday morning, Mr. de Moraes announced that he would forward the matter to the Attorney General's Office on Monday, November 25th. CNN Brazil reported After receiving a case, the Attorney General has up to 15 days to decide whether to close the case, accept it, or request further investigation.
According to anonymous court sources, CNN BrazilThe trial could then take place between March and April 2025. Anonymous criminal lawyers interviewed by the media said it would be “feasible” for the trial to take place in June 2025 because “the parties can request expert reports.”
Thursday was the third time Bolsonaro has been indicted since he left office in January 2023. Bolsonaro was indicted in other court proceedings. prohibited You can run for public office until 2030.
former president was indicted July Bolsonaro was indicted on charges of embezzlement, criminal association and money laundering related to accusations that he misappropriated jewelry he received from the Saudi government. If convicted, Bolsonaro could face 10 to 32 years in prison if convicted on all charges.
Bolsonaro was indicted in a separate case in March. case Charges of conspiracy and inserting false data into government information systems. Bolsonaro is accused of falsifying evidence that he received Wuhan coronavirus vaccine products in order to travel to the United States between December 2022 and March 2023. At the time, the administration of outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden had barred entry to foreign travelers without proof of having received Wuhan coronavirus vaccine products. An approved coronavirus vaccine if you are attempting to enter the country legally.
Brazilian President Lula da Silva commented Speaking at an official event Thursday night in Planalto, he spoke about the alleged assassination plot in 2022.
“I am a man who has a lot to be grateful for being alive. [Vice President] Alcumin didn’t work – here we are,” Lula said.
“And I don't want to poison anyone. I don't want to persecute anyone. The only thing I want is for the morale of the people who ruled before us to go up in numbers when my term ends.” “It’s discouraging,” he continued. “I want to measure by numbers who has built more schools in this country, who has taken more care of the poor in this country.”
Bolsonaro himself is a survivor of a documented and nearly successful assassination plot. caught on video. During a 2018 election rally, a former member of the socialist party took advantage of the large crowd to approach Bolsonaro, then a lawmaker and presidential candidate, and stab him in the stomach. Bolsonaro has suffered serious health complications for the past six years as a result of severe damage to his digestive system from the stab wounds.
Christian K. Caruso is a Venezuelan writer who chronicles life under socialism. You can follow him on Twitter here.
