Flávio Bolsonaro criticizes the Attorney General's complaint and claims the accusation is based on a "draft of a State of Siege".
Senator questions the basis of the accusation against his father.
247 - Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ) stated, in an interview with CNN Brazil on Wednesday (19), that the Attorney General's Office (PGR) would have based itself on a 'draft' of State of Siege to denounce former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) for the crimes of violent abolition of the Democratic Rule of Law, coup d'état and criminal organization.
"What we are seeing is the Attorney General's Office basing its decision on a draft of a State of Siege bill, which was supposedly to be sent to the National Congress, something that nobody knows who wrote. Not even the Attorney General's Office itself knows who wrote this draft," the senator declared.
PGR complaint
Brazil's Attorney General, Paulo Gonet, filed charges against 34 people, including Bolsonaro, as part of an investigation into an alleged coup plot aimed at keeping the former president in power after his defeat in the 2022 elections.
Among the crimes attributed to Bolsonaro in the document presented by Gonet are:
- Armed criminal organization;
- Attempt to violently abolish the Democratic Rule of Law;
- Coup d'état;
- Damage aggravated by violence and serious threat against the assets of the Union;
- Deterioration of listed heritage.
According to the indictment, Bolsonaro allegedly led the criminal organization involved in the coup plot. "Responsibility for acts harmful to the democratic order falls on a criminal organization led by Jair Messias Bolsonaro, based on an authoritarian power project. Rooted in the very structure of the State and with strong influence from military sectors, the organization developed in a hierarchical order and with a division of the predominant tasks among its members," states an excerpt from the indictment.
What happens now?
The complaint signed by Gonet was forwarded to Minister Alexandre de Moraes, the case's rapporteur at the Supreme Federal Court (STF). Moraes is expected to give Bolsonaro's lawyers 15 days to present their defense and any possible rebuttals. If there are rebuttals, the Attorney General's Office (PGR) will have up to five days to respond.
Next, Moraes will evaluate the arguments and decide whether to release the case for trial. The analysis will be carried out by the First Panel of the Supreme Court, which will determine whether Bolsonaro and the other 33 defendants will become defendants.
If the complaint is accepted, a criminal case will be opened and the process will proceed to the evidence gathering phase, witness testimonies, and defense.
The accusation further aggravates Bolsonaro's legal situation, as he already faces other investigations and restrictions, such as the retention of his passport. Now, it will be up to the Supreme Court to decide the next steps in the process.
