Bolsonaro faces investigation for inspiring Brazilian capital riots

Brazil’s Supreme Court says it will investigate former president Jair Bolsonaro for inspiring far-right crowds invade and raid The country’s parliament, Supreme Court and presidential offices this week, a rapid escalation in the investigation suggest the former leader could soon face legal consequences for a movement extremist that he helped build.

In a decision late on Friday, Alexandre de MoraesA Supreme Court judge, approved a request by federal prosecutors to include Bolsonaro in a rapidly expanding investigation into the January 8 anti-democratic riots.

Mr Moraes, who has emerged as one of the nation’s most powerful – and controversial – figures in recent months, said that Mr. Bolsonaro’s past questions Brazil’s electoral system and his attacks on Brazilian institutions, including the Supreme Court, “may have contributed, in a very fitting way, to the perpetuation of criminal and terrorist acts, ” including storming government buildings on Sunday.

This decision illustrates the aggressive tactics the Brazilian authorities have taken in response to the riots. While law enforcement quickly arrest more than 1,000 riotersThe authorities say they are also looking to prosecute businessmen they believe helped fund the protests, security officials they say allowed the violence to take place, and now the former president. tradition, who they say has inspired the anger and false beliefs that fueled the protests. crowd.

Frederick Wassef, Bolsonaro’s lawyer, said in a statement that the former president had always publicly criticized illegal practices and defended democracy.

“President Jair Bolsonaro vehemently denies acts of vandalism and appropriation of public property by those who infiltrate the protests,” Wassef said. “He has never had any relationship with or participated in spontaneous social movements carried out by the people.”

Mr Bolsonaro has been in Florida since December 30 on an extended trip that he hopes will help cool down various investigations into his activities as president, as his political rival, Mr. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, took office, according to a report. The close friend spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss plans privately. Now he is facing his most serious investigation yet.

Mr. Bolsonaro was the target of five other Supreme Court investigations, including his handling of the pandemic; spreading misinformation; and leaked classified information as he discussed the hack into the country’s election agency to support his argument that Brazil’s electoral system is insecure.

The Attorney General’s Office has asked the Supreme Court, also Brazil’s highest criminal court, to investigate Mr Bolsonaro because he shared a Facebook post on January 10 from a state prosecutor. , who falsely claimed that Mr. Lula had stolen the October election. Mr. Bolsonaro deleted the post the next day.

The federal prosecutor argued that Bolsonaro’s immense influence meant that such posts could effectively incite crime, and therefore courts should investigate whether the actions and comments How his past might have influenced the riots.

Mr Moraes said the January 10 post was consistent with a pattern of behavior for which he is being investigated and therefore warrants his inclusion in the investigation. Mr Moraes said Mr Bolsonaro would be investigated for inciting a crime, which could carry a prison sentence of up to six months.

Moraes’s own involvement in the January 8 investigation is likely to spark further criticism, especially on the Brazilian right, that the judge is overstepping his jurisdiction for reasons due to politics. Mr Moraes, who is also Brazil’s election chief, has become the most effective check on Mr Bolsonaro’s power in the final stages of his presidency after he opened numerous investigations into political opponents. Bolsonaro’s allies and supporters as well as the president himself.

In many cases, Mr. Moraes has also taken advantage of the expanded powers given to him by fellow judges to carry out what he says are attacks against Brazil’s democracy. Under his leadership, the Supreme Court jailed several Bolsonaro supporters without trial for what the court saw as a threat against the country’s institutions. Moraes has also overseen a widespread crackdown on right-wing voices on social media, including some members of Congress, prominent media personalities and business leaders.