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Bolsonaro’s defense claims police aim to “Demoralize” former president
Brazilian former president Jair Bolsonaro’s legal team has denied claims that he violated precautionary measures during his trial for an alleged attempted coup, accusing the police of trying to “demoralize” him, according to a document submitted to the Supreme Court.
The Brazilian Supreme Court is set to begin discussions on September 2 regarding Bolsonaro’s case, in which he faces charges linked to an alleged coup attempt following the 2022 presidential election won by Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Earlier this month, Bolsonaro was placed under house arrest after breaching restrictions prohibiting him from speaking on social media. On Thursday, Brazilian authorities requested the indictment of Bolsonaro and his U.S.-based son, Eduardo, for allegedly attempting to coerce the justice system and obstruct the investigation into the supposed coup.
The police report stated that Bolsonaro and Eduardo, who finances his father’s stay in the United States, acted “to interfere with the progress of legal proceedings” and recommended charges of coercion and “undermining the democratic rule of law.” These offenses could result in a combined sentence of up to 12 years.
Authorities also said they found a 33-page document on Bolsonaro’s phone in which he requested political asylum in Argentina from President Javier Milei, just days after the investigation into him began, citing “political persecution in Brazil.”
Bolsonaro’s lawyers called the police report “politically motivated,” aimed at undermining a former president and exposing his private life while making serious but unfounded accusations. “The goal is intimidation. Demoralization. In other words, a form of ‘lawfare’ is underway,” they said.
The defense maintains that Bolsonaro complied with all court decisions, including staying home under electronic monitoring, and argued that a draft asylum request from February 2024 “cannot be considered an indication of flight risk.”
If convicted, Bolsonaro could face up to 40 years in prison. The former president continues to claim his innocence and denounces what he calls political persecution.
