Brazil’s federal police indicted former President Jair Bolsonaro and 36 others Thursday for allegedly attempting to orchestrate a coup following his defeat in the 2022 presidential election, marking the most serious legal challenge yet for the former leader.
The indictment will be presented to Brazil’s Supreme Court for review by Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet, who must decide whether to proceed with formal charges and put the former president on trial. Bolsonaro has consistently denied allegations that he attempted to retain power after losing to leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The development comes amid mounting legal pressure on the former right-wing president, who already faces separate investigations into alleged diamond jewelry smuggling and COVID-19 vaccination record falsification, charges he also denies.
The indictment follows Tuesday’s arrest of five individuals, including four military officers and a federal police officer, accused of plotting to overthrow the government and allegedly planning to assassinate President Lula and other high-ranking officials in the wake of the 2022 election.
