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Former Brazilian President Indicted for Alleged Coup Attempt
Ex-President Jair Bolsonaro is facing charges for his alleged role in a failed coup attempt last year. On Thursday, he was among 37 people indicted by Brazilian Federal Police.
The indictments allege that Bolsonaro and his co-conspirators plotted to overturn the results of the 2022 election, which he lost to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The plan involved storming government buildings and assassinating key officials.
The coup attempt occurred on January 8, 2023, but failed due to a lack of support from the military. More than 200 Bolsonaro supporters involved in the attack have been convicted, but the indictments focus on those who allegedly orchestrated it.
Bolsonaro is accused of having knowledge of the plot and facilitating its execution. Police investigators gathered evidence from communications, financial records, and whistleblower statements.
Brazil’s Supreme Court will now review the indictments and evidence. If convicted, Bolsonaro and his co-defendants could face up to 12 years in prison. The indictments come after the Supreme Court previously disqualified Bolsonaro from running for president until 2030 for abusing his power.