Bolsonaro made a flagrant confession of obstruction of justice, says Moraes
The Brazilian Supreme Court (STF) released a decision that formed the basis for precautionary measures against Bolsonaro.
Felipe Pontes – reporter for Agência Brasil
In a decision recently released by the Supreme Federal Court, Justice Alexandre de Moraes wrote that former President Jair Bolsonaro and his son Eduardo made a "flagrant confession" of criminal acts to coerce and obstruct Brazilian justice, which is why he decided to impose precautionary measures against Bolsonaro.
They are investigated for the crimes of coercion during the course of the process (Art. 344 of the Penal Code), obstruction of the investigation of a criminal offense involving a criminal organization (Art. 2, § 1, of Law 12.850/13) and violent abolition of the Democratic State of Law (Art. 359-L of the Penal Code).
In another part of the decision, Moraes also mentions the crime of attacking sovereignty (art. 359-I of the Penal Code).
According to the decision, Bolsonaro must comply with house arrest between 19 pm and 6 am from Monday to Friday and full-time on weekends and holidays; be monitored with an electronic ankle bracelet; not maintain contact with ambassadors, foreign authorities, or approach the headquarters of embassies and consulates.
The measures were requested by the Federal Police (PF), with a favorable opinion from the Attorney General's Office (PGR). The agencies cited the risk of the former president fleeing to justify the installation of an electronic ankle monitor.
For the minister, the conduct of Bolsonaro and his son characterizes “CLEAR and EXPRESS EXECUTIVE ACTS and FLAGRANTS CONFESSIONS OF THE PRACTICE OF CRIMINAL ACTS, especially the crimes of coercion during the course of the process, obstruction of the investigation of a criminal offense involving a criminal organization and an attack on sovereignty”.
The minister stressed that the "criminal audacity seems to have no limits," occurring in broad daylight, in social media posts and interviews and pronouncements to media outlets.
Moraes pointed to a press conference held by Bolsonaro this Thursday (17), in which the former president conditioned the withdrawal of US sanctions against Brazil on the approval of an amnesty that favors him by Congress.
The decision brings images of posts by Eduardo on the social network X and interviews with TV channels such as CNN in which the president's son defends the 50% tax announced by the president of the United States, Donald Trump, on Brazilian products.
In announcing the measure, Trump cited what he called a "witch hunt" against Bolsonaro as one of his justifications.
“The actions of JAIR MESSIAS BOLSONARO demonstrate that the defendant is acting willfully and knowingly in an illicit manner, together with his son, EDUARDO NANTES BOLSONARO, with the purpose of trying to subject the functioning of the Supreme Federal Court to the scrutiny of another foreign State, through hostile acts derived from spurious and criminal negotiations with patent obstruction of justice and the clear purpose of coercing this COURT in the judgment of AP 2.668/DF.”
Criminal action 2668 targets Bolsonaro and seven other allies, including military and civilian personnel, all accused by the PGR of leading a failed coup attempt, whose objective was to keep the former president in power even after his electoral defeat.
Sovereignty
Moraes' decision was made in a new inquiry, opened at the request of the Attorney General's Office, to investigate the conduct of Bolsonaro and Eduardo against national sovereignty.
In the text, the minister addressed the imposition of a 50% tax on Brazilian products announced this month by US President Donald Trump, who justified the measure by citing what he called a "witch hunt" against Bolsonaro due to the coup process.
"The implementation of the tariff increase is intended to create a serious economic crisis in Brazil, to generate political and social pressure on the Judiciary and to impact diplomatic relations between Brazil and the United States," the minister wrote.
He added that “National Sovereignty cannot, should not and will never be vilified, negotiated or extorted, as it is one of the FOUNDATIONS OF THE FEDERATIVE REPUBLIC OF BRAZIL, expressly provided for in item I of article 1 of the Federal Constitution”.
“The FEDERAL SUPREME COURT will always be absolutely inflexible in defending National Sovereignty and in its commitment to Democracy, Fundamental Rights, the Rule of Law, the independence of the National Judiciary and Brazilian constitutional principles,” stated Moraes.
The minister also quoted writer Machado de Assis. "NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING IN THE WORLD, ON THE CONDITION OF BEING SOVEREIGNTY AND BEING NATIONAL," the quote reads.
