A majority of a Brazilian Supreme Court panel has found former President Jair Bolsonaro guilty of attempting to stage a coup to remain in power after the 2022 election. Three of five justices on the panel voted to convict Bolsonaro on all five charges he faced. The former leader, who has been under house arrest since August, could face up to 40 years in prison.
Bolsonaro was charged with plotting a coup d’état, participating in an armed criminal organization, attempting to dismantle Brazil’s democratic order by force, committing violent acts against state institutions, and damaging protected public property during the storming of government buildings by his supporters on January 8, 2023. Prosecutors alleged part of the plot involved plans to use explosives, weapons of war, or poison to assassinate leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversaw Bolsonaro’s trial.
Bolsonaro and other defendants in the case have denied wrongdoing. The evidence against him centered on efforts to retain power after losing the 2022 election to Lula da Silva. Federal police stated Bolsonaro had “full knowledge” of a plan to overturn election results, pressure the military to intervene, and establish a parallel “crisis management office” to run the government.
Supreme Court Justice Luiz Fux voted to acquit Bolsonaro of forming a criminal organization and to annul his trial over jurisdiction, diverging from his peers. Fux argued the case should be heard by the full 11-member Supreme Court, taking 13 hours to detail his dissent. Meanwhile, Justice Moraes condemned Bolsonaro’s actions, calling him “the leader of a criminal organization” and citing evidence of a plot involving elite army personnel to assassinate Lula and Moraes. A document codenamed Operation Green and Yellow Dagger, which outlined plans to poison Lula and shoot Moraes, was presented in court.
Bolsonaro’s allies criticized Moraes’ handling of the trial, while the Trump administration imposed sanctions on Moraes, including stripping his U.S. visa and levying 50% tariffs on Brazilian goods. Bolsonaro has indicated he will appeal the verdict, with other defendants also denying the charges.