Attorney General Paulo Gonet Branco’s office stated that the indictment is based on “manuscripts, digital files, spreadsheets, and messages” that expose a coordinated effort to disrupt democracy. Bolsonaro, 69, faces five charges, including leading an “armed criminal organization” alongside his vice-presidential candidate Walter Braga Netto.
According to prosecutors, the plot began in 2021 with persistent attacks on Brazil’s electronic voting system. Security agencies were allegedly mobilized during the 2022 election to suppress opposition votes, culminating in the violent January 8, 2023 riots when Bolsonaro supporters stormed government buildings in Brasília. Investigators also uncovered an alleged assassination plot targeting President Lula, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, and a top judge, which they claim had Bolsonaro’s approval.
Bolsonaro denies the accusations, calling them “persecution.” His son, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, dismissed the charges as baseless, while his legal team expressed “shock” and “indignation.” The Supreme Court will now decide whether to proceed with the case.
Despite his legal troubles and a ban from public office until 2030, Bolsonaro is fighting to overturn the ruling, hoping to run in the 2026 presidential election. “Without me, there is no opposition in Brazil,” he told CNN Brasil.
