Bolsonaro’s net tightens as police confiscate his passport as part of a coup inquiry

BRASILIA: Former President Jair Bolsonaro’s passport was seized by Brazilian authorities on Thursday. Bolsonaro is accused of attempting to imprison a Supreme Court judge, revising a draft order to reverse election results, and encouraging military commanders to participate in a coup attempt.

The investigation against Bolsonaro and his close circle for allegedly organizing a military coup after his election defeat to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in 2022 is what led to the shocking accusations. Four former ministers were the targets of search warrants on Thursday, and four former aides were taken into custody.
Bolsonaro is a far-right nationalist who is often compared to former US President Donald Trump. The loss of his passport portends ominously for the former leader.
The evidence against Bolsonaro, according to a federal police officer directly engaged in Thursday’s searches, is substantial. He also said that the confiscation of his passport has the advantages of an arrest—such as reducing the danger of escape—while making less noise.
Speaking under anonymity, the police source said, “Because he is a prominent political figure, it is better to wait for the indictment and a conviction before arresting him.” “A precautionary arrest would open up a lot of room for allegations of political persecution.”
Police showed up early on Thursday morning at Bolsonaro’s beach residence in Rio de Janeiro state and demanded the papers. According to Bolsonaro family spokesperson Fabio Wajngarten on social media, the passport was in the capital city of Brasilia and is now in the hands of Brazil’s federal police.
In November 2022, Bolsonaro received a draft decree prepared by his aides to overturn election results and issue arrest warrants for Moraes, fellow Supreme Court Justice Gilmar Mendes, and Senate leader Rodrigo Pacheco. This decision, made by Justice Alexandre de Moraes, set the stage for Thursday’s operation.
The draft decree was changed at Bolsonaro’s request, but the court decision noted police investigations and maintained the demand for fresh elections as well as Moraes’ detention.
Based on phone records and plea bargain evidence from the former aide-de-camp of the outgoing president, the police narrative claims that Bolsonaro changed the order and then called military officers, pressuring them to back a putsch.
Paulo Bueno, Bolsonaro’s attorney, did not immediately respond.
“I departed from the government over a year ago and I continue to face unrelenting persecution,” Bolsonaro said on Thursday to the Folha de S. Paulo newspaper. “Ignore me. The current leader of the nation is someone else.”
Bolsonaro faces many criminal investigations that might result in his imprisonment, and he has already been declared politically ineligible until 2030 for disseminating false information during elections. He deems the inquiries politically motivated and has denied any misconduct.
STRONG ALLIES ATTACKED
The operation on Thursday was directed at a few of Bolsonaro’s closest associates, who were once some of the most influential individuals in Brazil.
Search warrants were obtained for properties connected to a number of people and organizations, including former Bolsonaro running mate Walter Braga Netto, national security advisor Augusto Heleno, former defense minister Paulo Nogueira Batista, and former justice minister Anderson Torres.
According to reports, Valdemar Costa Neto, the head of Bolsonaro’s right-wing political organization, was taken into custody after an unregistered gun was discovered during a search of his Brasilia house.
According to the reports, Bolsonaro had four arrests, including Filipe Martins, his former advisor on foreign affairs. Before making any comments, Martins’ attorney said he needed access to the warrant and any supporting documentation.
Reuters reached out to attorneys representing additional targets of the police operation, but got no response right away.
In a statement, the federal police said that the suspects were charged with being part of “a criminal organization that acted in an attempted coup d’etat” with the intention of “keeping the then-President of the Republic in power.”
To prevent a repeat of the coup attempt, Lula said that an investigation into it was necessary.
In a radio appearance, Lula said, “There would have been no coup attempt without Bolsonaro.”