Brazil's Federal Supreme Court has found former President Jair Bolsonaro guilty on charges including plotting a coup. Some expect the sentence could be up to 40 years.
On the 11th (local time), the First Panel of Brazil's Federal Supreme Court saw four of the five justices favor a guilty verdict for former President Bolsonaro on charges of plotting a coup, organizing an armed criminal group, aggravated bodily harm, and damaging cultural property. As this case concerns an attempt by a president to overthrow the constitutional order, the Supreme Court tried it directly under the constitution.
In the trial, which was broadcast live on the judiciary's official channel and on YouTube, the justices since the 9th have explained the grounds for their findings of guilt or innocence in turn. In his final opinion, Justice Cristiano Zanin said, "According to the evidence, we cannot deem false the indictment's claim that, centered on former President Bolsonaro, there was an attempt to seize the legislative, executive, and judicial branches and install an emergency body."
Three other justices, including Alexandre de Moraes, also issued guilty opinions. Justice Luís Fux, by contrast, offered a not-guilty opinion, saying there was not sufficient organized evidence for the overthrow of the democratic order.
A former army officer, Bolsonaro was indicted along with his closest aides, including former Minister of the Ministry of National Defense Walter Braga Netto, on charges of plotting the assassination of incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who won the 2022 election, and a military coup. He is also accused of inciting the postelection riot that broke out in Brasília in Jan. 2023.
Local outlet G1 reported that seven key aides, including former Minister Braga Netto, were also mostly found guilty. The Supreme Court designated eight defendants as central figures in the case and plans to continue discussions to finalize sentences. Brazilian media reported that former President Bolsonaro could be sentenced to up to 40 years. He is currently under house arrest at his Brasília home wearing an electronic ankle monitor.
The ruling is deepening Brazil's domestic political divide and reverberating internationally. U.S. President Donald Trump, who has maintained close ties with Bolsonaro, said immediately after the ruling that it was "surprising and very disappointing," denouncing it as a "witch hunt." As retaliatory action, President Trump imposed a 50% tariff on Brazilian products, even stirring controversy over interference in internal affairs.
Eduardo Bolsonaro, the former president's son and a lawmaker, called for applying the U.S. Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act to Brazilian justices on the grounds of "human rights violations." In fact, the United States previously applied this law to Justice de Moraes.
Bolsonaro's side is expected to seek a retrial and request a ruling by the full bench of the Supreme Court (11 justices).