Bolsonaro to face trial in Brazil’s Supreme Court for alleged coup plot

March 26, 2025 TruthUSA

The top court in Brazil has agreed to try former President Jair Bolsonaro and key allies over an alleged post-election coup scheme.

Brazil’s Supreme Court confirmed on Wednesday that it will proceed with a criminal trial against former President Jair Bolsonaro and seven of his closest allies for their alleged involvement in a plot to overthrow the country’s democratic system after the 2022 election.

The decision was made unanimously in a vote announced on March 26 by a group of Supreme Court judges, following charges brought by the Prosecutor General’s Office. The charges accuse the former president and members of a group referred to as “Nucleus 1” of orchestrating a failed coup attempt in order to keep Bolsonaro in power after losing to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Bolsonaro, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing and claimed to be a victim of political persecution, reiterated his innocence to journalists after the panel’s decision.

“It appears that there is a personal vendetta against me,” Bolsonaro stated. “The accusations are baseless.”

By voting to proceed with the trial, the judges followed the recommendation of Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, the rapporteur of the case, who is leading the investigation into the alleged coup attempt. De Moraes determined that the prosecutors had presented enough evidence to suggest that the accused individuals were involved in criminal activities.

The charges include plotting a coup d’état, forming a criminal organization, and using violence to undermine Brazil’s democratic principles. Prosecutors allege that the group was determined to keep Bolsonaro in power “at any cost,” including plans to overturn the 2022 election results and pressure the military into supporting unconstitutional actions.

“The objective was to keep Jair Bolsonaro in power,” stated Brazil’s Attorney General, Paulo Gonet, on March 25, revealing that investigators had amassed a significant amount of evidence—including handwritten notes and electronic files—illustrating the attempts to reverse the election results.

According to prosecutors, Bolsonaro’s efforts to overturn the 2022 election eventually led to an attack on Brazil’s Supreme Court, Congress, and Presidential Palace by his supporters on Jan. 8, 2023, just days after Lula assumed office. Previously, Gonet charged Bolsonaro and others for their alleged involvement in the coup attempt, claiming that their plan included poisoning Lula and shooting de Moraes.

“The members of the criminal organization devised a plan within the presidential palace to attack institutions with the aim of undermining the governmental system and democratic order, which was ominously named ‘Green and Yellow Dagger,’” Gonet detailed in a 272-page indictment. “The plan was conceived and brought to the president’s attention, and he approved it.”

“The responsibility for actions detrimental to the democratic order lies with a criminal organization led by Jair Messias Bolsonaro, based on an authoritarian power scheme,” the charges stated.

With the charges now in effect, Bolsonaro and the other defendants are officially part of a criminal case. Other defendants included former Justice Minister Anderson Torres, retired General and former Chief of Staff Walter Braga Netto, Admiral and ex-Navy Commander Almir Garnier Santos, and former Defense Minister General Paulo Sérgio Nogueira.

Under Brazilian law, a conviction for attempting a coup could lead to a prison sentence of up to 12 years. Considering the additional charges, the overall sentence could potentially span several decades.

Source link