Federal law enforcement officers have executed multiple raids targeting former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and his allies in a dramatic escalation following allegations he plotted to remain in power regardless of the results of the 2022 presidential election.
On Thursday, the Department of Federal Police formerly accused Bolsonaro of attempting a coup following his loss to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. This morning, some of Bolsonaro’s aides were arrested and his passport was seized by the authorities.
According to The New York Times, Bolsonaro personally drafted an edict to arrest a Supreme Court justice and call for new elections after his defeat in the 2022 Brazilian general election runoff:
Mr. Bolsonaro and dozens of top aides, ministers and military leaders coordinated to undermine the Brazilian public’s faith in the election and set the stage for a potential coup, the federal police said.
Their efforts included spreading information about voter fraud, drafting legal arguments for new elections, recruiting military personnel to support a coup, surveilling judges and encouraging and guiding protesters who eventually raided government buildings, police said.
The explosive allegations were made in a 134-page court order that authorized a sweeping federal police operation on Thursday that targeted Mr. Bolsonaro and more than 45 of his political allies. The operation involved 33 search warrants and the arrests of four people, including two Army officers and two of Mr. Bolsonaro’s former top aides.
Mr. Bolsonaro was subject to a search warrant and ordered to hand over his passport, to remain in the country, and to have no contact with any other people under investigation.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
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