Brazilian authorities indicted and arrested the nation’s former president, Jair Bolsonaro, on accusations of knowing about a plot to kill the president-elect while trying to overturn the country’s 2022 election. Federal police took Bolsonaro and 36 others into custody Thursday, Nov. 21 as part of an investigation into the fallout.
Officials said Bolsonaro had “full knowledge” of a plan to prevent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and his government from taking office.
Earlier this week, police arrested five others including a former advisor to Bolsonaro over the alleged plot.
The coup plotters also allegedly had a plan to assassinate Lula’s vice president and a Supreme Court justice.
In October 2022, Lula narrowly beat Bolsonaro in the election. As a result, Bolsonaro’s supporters rioted at government buildings.
Bolsonaro allegedly met with officials from the military and the minister of defense in December 2022 to present a legal plan that would keep him in power.
Bolsonaro denied the allegations of attempting a coup.
Brazil’s political experts said Bolsonaro is already barred from running in the 2026 elections.
