Brazil's Federal Police have brought serious charges against former President Jair Bolsonaro and 36 others for allegedly plotting to assassinate current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and potentially staging a coup in 2022.
On Thursday, the indictment was announced, accusing Bolsonaro of orchestrating a criminal organization with plans to overturn the 2022 election results, Breitbart reported.
The charges against Bolsonaro and his associates involve plans to target not only President Lula but also Vice President Geraldo Alckmin and Supreme Federal Court Minister Alexandre de Moraes. Individuals indicted include Bolsonaro’s former aide Mauro Cid, his party’s president Valdemar Costa Neto, along with former administration figures and military personnel.
A reported assassination attempt, dubbed “Green and Yellow Dagger,” was allegedly planned for December 15, 2022. According to the indictments, these plans were allegedly set following Bolsonaro's narrow election loss in October 2022.
The coup plan reportedly involved creating an "Institutional Crisis Management Office" headed by those implicated. Evidence collected by investigators was extensive, involving the breach of various confidential records and utilizing plea deals, searches, and seizures.
Brazilian Federal Police stated: The evidence was obtained through several police investigations carried out over almost two years, based on the breaking of computer, telephone, banking and tax confidentiality, plea bargains, searches and seizures, among other measures duly authorized by the Judiciary.
Bolsonaro released statements in which he condemned Minister Alexandre de Moraes and queried the legitimacy of the investigation. Beyond just a denial of wrongdoing, Bolsonaro questioned the actions of the Federal Police and the role of the judiciary.
"We have to see what’s in this Federal Police indictment," Bolsonaro stated. He emphasized his intentions to fight the charges, particularly criticizing what he perceives as a biased legal structure.
The accusations also involve intricate plans to muster human and military resources, employing advanced operational strategies. These plans were reportedly documented and printed at key government locations in November and December of 2022.
Facing a third indictment since leaving office, Bolsonaro has previously been charged with separate crimes, such as embezzlement and falsifying vaccination records. These fresh charges, however, carry substantial gravity and could result in long sentences if the accused are found guilty.
President Lula reacted to the indictment by acknowledging the severity of the allegations but remained focused on his administration’s objectives. He expressed relief that assassination attempts failed while seeking the peaceful completion of his term.
President Lula da Silva remarked: I’m a guy who has a lot more to be thankful for because I’m alive. The attempt to poison me and [Vice President] Alckmin didn’t work — we’re here. And I don’t want to poison anyone. I don’t even want to persecute anyone. The only thing I want is that when my term ends, we demoralize with numbers those who governed before us.
The indictment charges Bolsonaro and others with "coup" and "organized crime," carrying potential prison sentences of three to twelve years. The case will soon advance to the Attorney General’s Office, starting a lengthy judicial process.
The review is set for November 25, with a trial possibly between March and June 2025, carrying significant political implications for Brazil.
As the investigation unfolds, Bolsonaro's indictment for plotting to assassinate a sitting president marks a pivotal moment in Brazil's history.
