BRASILIA, Brazil — Attorneys for former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro expressed shock Thursday by the federal police’s choice to formally accuse him of obstruction of justice simply days forward of the sentencing section of his trial over an alleged coup plot.
Bolsonaro would face one other trial if the attorney-general decides to cost him primarily based on the brand new accusations.
The federal police investigation unveiled on Wednesday confirmed Bolsonaro thought-about in search of political asylum in Argentina final yr and that he continued to speak with allies in current weeks regardless of precautionary measures that now drive him to be beneath home arrest.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversees the case, instructed Bolsonaro’s attorneys late on Wednesday that they had 48 hours to clarify why the previous president was not complying with measures established for his home arrest order.
Bolsonaro’s attorneys denied any wrongdoing.
“There was by no means noncompliance with any precautionary measure beforehand imposed,” the attorneys stated in a press release, wherein they added they may make clear Bolsonaro’s current actions to de Moraes in a well timed trend.
Additionally on Thursday, certainly one of Bolsonaro’s attorneys stated in a TV interview that the previous president by no means critically thought-about in search of political asylum in Argentina. Paulo Cunha Bueno instructed TV GloboNews that Bolsonaro obtained “each sort of suggestion” because the investigations on him went ahead.
“Somebody despatched him that asylum request in February of 2024. He may have gone, however he didn’t. He did not need it and he was neither in home arrest nor in ankle monitoring. He had each situation to flee and he didn’t,” Cunha stated.
Bolsonaro claimed in a 33-page doc to Milei he was being politically persecuted in Brazil, paperwork obtained by federal police present. Each are staunch supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has not too long ago repeated among the former president’s claims in his choice to impose 50% tariffs on Brazilian exports.
“I, Jair Messias Bolsonaro, request political asylum from Your Excellency within the Republic of Argentina, beneath an pressing regime, as I discover myself in a state of affairs of political persecution in Brazil and concern for my life,” the previous Brazilian chief wrote.
Bolsonaro had his passport seized by Brazil’s Supreme Court docket in on Feb. 8, 2024. He has repeatedly sought to get it again, together with previous to Trump’s inauguration earlier this yr. De Moraes rejected all requests as the previous president is seen as a flight danger.
Manuel Adorni, spokesperson for Milei, stated the Argentine authorities hasn’t obtained something but. Bolsonaro didn’t remark in regards to the investigation.
A verdict and sentence within the coup trial will come from a Supreme Court docket panel of 5 justices. They’re scheduled to announce their rulings between Sept. 2 and 12. The brand new findings won’t be a part of that call.
Prosecutors say Bolsonaro and a number of other of his allies headed a legal group that plotted to overturn the election, together with plans to kill Lula and de Moraes.
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