Believe it or not: the Angel's messages

By Helena Chagas, for Journalists for Democracy - Former Bolsonaro family lawyer Frederick Wassef denies being the "Angel" but confirms his vocation as a bombshell in a cover interview in this weekend's edition of Veja magazine. Wassef, who sheltered former aide Fabrício Queiroz at his home in Atibaia (SP) and left the defense of Flávio Bolsonaro, maintains in the magazine the implausible version that he never spoke about Queiroz with the president and his son, who would know nothing about the hiding place for more than a year. And he added an even more outlandish element to the narrative, stating that he sheltered the former aide – which he denied until the day before – because he had information that he would be assassinated and that the blame would fall on the Bolsonaros. 

Believe it or not. But what seems clear is that, far beyond the lawyer's usual showboating, he's sending a message to Jair Bolsonaro on the cover of Veja magazine. At one point in the conversation with reporters, he said: "One shouldn't turn one's back on former allies." Wassef, who holds many secrets, wanted to show that, contrary to what some believe, he's still in the game and won't leave the scene. He probably fears being accused and arrested and is showing that he won't accept being abandoned to his fate by his former clients.

For now, the lawyer declares his love for Bolsonaro – “I love the president” – and maintains the version that it was his decision to leave the defense of the president's son, insisting that the family wanted him to stay. Despite numerous leaks from the Presidential Palace that, shortly after Queiroz's arrest, indicated that he would soon be dismissed, Wassef is keeping up appearances. 

But you don't even need to know him well; just observing the last week is enough to see that the validity of what Wassef says may not last long. Before, he didn't know Queiroz, he hadn't been to his house, etc. Now, the conversation is different, and it adapts to the circumstances of the moment. He ended the interview assuring: "above all, I am loyal and I never betray anyone." But the Bolsonaro family seems to know very well the risk they are running.