A prosecutor asked Brazil’s Supreme Court on Tuesday, July 15th, to find ex-president Jair Bolsonaro guilty of plotting a coup, in closing arguments.
Bolsonaro is accused of seeking to overturn the 2022 election won by his left-wing opponent, current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The prosecution told the court that former army officer Bolsonaro and seven others were guilty of participating in “armed criminal association” and had sought to “violently overthrow the democratic order.”
The case now goes to Justice Alexandre de Moraes. If found guilty, Bolsonaro and his co-defendants could face up to 40 years in prison.
Bolsonaro, who served as president from 2019-2023 before Lula replaced him, says he is the victim of political persecution.
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly called on social media for Bolsonaro’s trial to be stopped, accusing the authorities in Brazil of mounting a “witch hunt.”
On July 9th, he announced plans to tariff Brazilian imports to the United States at 50 percent.
Trump cited “Brazil’s insidious attacks on Free Elections” among other issues, warning of further escalation if the country retaliated—something Lula indicated would happen.
On Friday, Trump reiterated his claim that Bolsonaro was being unfairly treated.
“They’re treating President Bolsonaro very unfairly,” Trump told reporters, calling him “a good man.”
