Bolsonaro takes the stand in historic Brazil coup trial
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Bolsonaro takes the stand in historic Brazil coup trial
Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro is accused of masterminding a plot to stage a coup after failing to be reelected in 2022. The far-right leader and seven of his former associates are being tried for their part in an alleged plan to cling to power. The alleged plot included a plan to assassinate or arrest President-elect Lula da Silva before his inauguration on Jan. 1, 2023. A five-justice panel at Brazil’s Supreme Court in Brasilia has been hearing testimony from high-ranking military and political figures for over two weeks. This week, the eight defendants are taking the stand, with one former aide, Army Lt. Col. Mauro Cid, now cooperating as a key witness. If found guilty, he could face up to 40 years in prison.
The populist far-right leader and seven of his former associates are being tried for their part in an alleged plan to cling to power after Bolsonaro lost the 2022 presidential elections to leftist candidate Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
This marks the first time in Brazilian history that a former head of state is being tried for attempting to overthrow the government.
The alleged plot included a plan to assassinate or arrest President-elect Lula da Silva before his inauguration on Jan. 1, 2023, as well as Vice President Geraldo Alckmin and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. The plot, known as “Operation Green and Yellow Dagger,” was reportedly coordinated through encrypted messages and included surveillance of de Moraes.
The hearings have also delved into the Jan. 8, 2023, riots, when thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed government buildings, calling for a military coup just a week after Lula’s inauguration.
A five-justice panel at Brazil’s Supreme Court in Brasilia has been hearing testimony from high-ranking military and political figures for over two weeks now, with over 80 witnesses due to appear during the course of the trial. This week, the eight defendants — including Bolsonaro — are taking the stand, with one former aide, Army Lt. Col. Mauro Cid, now cooperating as a key witness.
The alleged plot came to light last November, when Federal Police investigators published an 884-page report detailing an elaborate plan to dismantle Brazil’s democracy.
The eight people accused, including Bolsonaro, are referred to as “Nucleus 1” for their central role in the alleged plot, and include four of Bolsonaro’s former ministers. The men stand accused of five counts, including “violent abolition of the democratic rule of law,” promoting a “coup d’état” and “deterioration of listed heritage” — a reference to the widespread destruction of government buildings by rioters in Brasilia on Jan. 8.
The first witness to take the stand this week was Cid, Bolsonaro’s former right-hand man, who testified for over four hours on Monday. Cid, who blew the whistle on the alleged coup plot, claimed Bolsonaro reviewed and edited the draft of the coup plan. Next to testify was Alexandre Ramagem, former head of Brazil’s Intelligence Agency, who denied spying on authorities.
A former army captain, Bolsonaro, 70, is testifying before Justice de Moraes, who is leading the trial. De Moraes has become a polarizing figure, facing criticism from Bolsonaro and his allies — including Elon Musk and President Donald Trump — due to his crackdown on disinformation and alleged censorship.
As Bolsonaro takes the stand, the courtroom will be a battleground not only for legal accountability but also for the broader ideological conflict between democratic institutions and populist forces in the country. The trial, broadcast live on the Judiciary’s TV and internet channels, is seen as a pivotal moment in Brazil’s democratic history, 61 years after the 1964 coup that established a bloody 21-year military dictatorship.
Bolsonaro has already been barred from running for office until 2030, but enjoys large political influence in Congress and popularity. If found guilty, he could face up to 40 years in prison. The former president has consistently denied the charges. During a break in court on Monday, he told journalists he was not preparing for prison because there was “no reason to convict” him. “I have a clear conscience,” he said.
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Brazil’s Bolsonaro rejects charges in coup trial
Jair Bolsonaro denies involvement in an alleged coup plot against his successor. He is the sixth of eight accused to face questioning in a historic and high-stakes trial. The 70-year-old was called to answer questions from lawyers and judges on his alleged role in a “criminal organization” The plot only failed, the charge sheet says, for a lack of military backing. The trial is the first for an attempted coup under a democratic regime in Brazil, ruled by a military dictatorship from 1964 to 1985 for which Bolsonara has expressed nostalgia.. The former president, who is still hoping to make a comeback in 2026 presidential elections despite being barred from running, denies all charges and could face prison sentences of up to 40 years if convicted. He was one of the targets of rioting supporters known as “Bolsonasas” who raided government buildings in January23 as they urged the military to oust Lula da Silva after the alleged coup planning fizzled.
Brazil’s far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro on Tuesday denied involvement in an alleged coup plot against his successor as he took the stand for the first time in a historic and high-stakes trial.
The 70-year-old was called to answer questions from lawyers and judges on his alleged role in a “criminal organization” that plotted to wrest back power after leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva narrowly beat Bolsonaro at the ballot box in October 2022.
The plot only failed, the charge sheet says, for a lack of military backing.
Bolsonaro, a former army captain who governed Brazil from 2019 to 2022, was the sixth of eight accused to face questioning in a session that started on Monday.
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Dressed smartly in a dark suit and tie, the former president placed a copy of the Brazilian constitution on the table in front of him as he settled in, facing the judges.
“That’s not the case, your honor,” Bolsonaro replied when asked by Judge Alexandre de Moraes — with whom he has had many previous run-ins — whether the accusations against him were true.
He insisted he had only discussed possible “constitutional mechanisms” after his legal challenges to the election outcome failed, and said he never saw any “coup memo” as alleged by the prosecution.
“From my side… there was never talk of a coup,” Bolsonaro told the court during two hours of questioning by Moraes — who the ex-president has labeled a “dictator.”
He also denied having knowledge of an alleged plan to kill Lula, his vice president Geraldo Alckmin and Moraes.
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Bolsonaro and his co-accused could face prison sentences of up to 40 years if convicted.
– Dictatorship nostalgia –
On Monday, former right-hand man Mauro Cid — a co-defendant who has turned state’s witness — told the court Bolsonaro had “received and read” a draft decree for the declaration of a state of emergency.
He then “edited” the document, which would have paved the way for measures to “redo the election” and also envisaged the imprisonment of top personalities including Moraes, said Cid.
Apart from Cid, the other co-defendants are four ex-ministers and the former heads of Brazil’s navy and intelligence agency.
Most who have taken the stand so far have rejected the bulk of the accusations in the charge sheet.
Two other former military commanders have claimed Bolsonaro hosted a meeting where the declaration of a state of emergency was discussed as a mechanism for holding new elections.
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The trial is the first for an attempted coup under a democratic regime in Brazil, ruled by a military dictatorship from 1964 to 1985 for which Bolsonaro has expressed nostalgia.
Outside the court, a small group of protesters gathered with calls for the court to “punish those who threaten its democracy.”
– ‘My conscience is clear’ –
Bolsonaro, who is still hoping to make a comeback in 2026 presidential elections despite being barred from running in a separate court ruling, denies all charges.
“They have nothing to convict me, my conscience is clear,” the former leader told reporters Monday.
Almir Garnier, who was navy commander under Bolsonaro, denied on Tuesday that the former president had discussed the declaration of a state of emergency with military officials.
He also denied offering Bolsonaro navy troops.
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Anderson Torres, who served as Bolsonaro’s justice minister, appeared in court wearing an electronic bracelet to deny he had participated in drawing up a so-called “coup draft” document investigators said they found at his house.
– ‘Moment of truth’ –
Although he has the right to remain silent, the former president previously said he would be “very happy” to answer the court’s questions.
“It’s the moment of truth,” he said.
The Supreme Court headquarters in Brasilia was one of the targets of rioting supporters known as “Bolsonaristas” — who raided government buildings in January 2023 as they urged the military to oust Lula.
Bolsonaro was abroad at the time of this last-gasp effort to keep him in power after the alleged coup planning fizzled.
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Bolsonaro takes the stand in historic Brazil coup trial
Jair Bolsonaro is accused of masterminding a plot to stage a coup after failing to be reelected in 2022. The far-right leader and seven of his former associates are being tried for their part in an alleged plan to cling to power. The alleged plot included a plan to assassinate or arrest President-elect Lula da Silva before his inauguration on Jan. 1, 2023. The trial, broadcast live on the Judiciary’s TV and internet channels, is seen as a pivotal moment in Brazil’s democratic history, 61 years after the 1964 coup that established a bloody 21-year military dictatorship. If found guilty, he could face up to 40 years in prison, but he has consistently denied the charges and says there is “no reason to convict” him. He is testifying before Justice de Moraes, who is leading the trial.
toggle caption Eraldo Peres/AP
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro has begun facing cross-examination in a historic trial in Brazil’s Supreme Court, accused of masterminding a plot to stage a coup after failing to be reelected in 2022.
The populist far-right leader and seven of his former associates are being tried for their part in an alleged plan to cling to power after Bolsonaro lost the 2022 presidential elections to leftist candidate Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
This marks the first time in Brazilian history that a former head of state is being tried for attempting to overthrow the government.
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The alleged plot included a plan to assassinate or arrest President-elect Lula da Silva before his inauguration on Jan. 1, 2023, as well as Vice President Geraldo Alckmin and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. The plot, known as “Operation Green and Yellow Dagger,” was reportedly coordinated through encrypted messages and included surveillance of de Moraes.
The hearings have also delved into the Jan. 8, 2023, riots, when thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed government buildings, calling for a military coup just a week after Lula’s inauguration.
A five-justice panel at Brazil’s Supreme Court in Brasilia has been hearing testimony from high-ranking military and political figures for over two weeks now, with over 80 witnesses due to appear during the course of the trial. This week, the eight defendants — including Bolsonaro — are taking the stand, with one former aide, Army Lt. Col. Mauro Cid, now cooperating as a key witness.
The alleged plot came to light last November, when Federal Police investigators published an 884-page report detailing an elaborate plan to dismantle Brazil’s democracy.
The eight people accused, including Bolsonaro, are referred to as “Nucleus 1” for their central role in the alleged plot, and include four of Bolsonaro’s former ministers. The men stand accused of five counts, including “violent abolition of the democratic rule of law,” promoting a “coup d’état” and “deterioration of listed heritage” — a reference to the widespread destruction of government buildings by rioters in Brasilia on Jan. 8.
Sponsor Message
The first witness to take the stand this week was Cid, Bolsonaro’s former right-hand man, who testified for over four hours on Monday. Cid, who blew the whistle on the alleged coup plot, claimed Bolsonaro reviewed and edited the draft of the coup plan. Next to testify was Alexandre Ramagem, former head of Brazil’s Intelligence Agency, who denied spying on authorities.
A former army captain, Bolsonaro, 70, is testifying before Justice de Moraes, who is leading the trial. De Moraes has become a polarizing figure, facing criticism from Bolsonaro and his allies — including Elon Musk and President Donald Trump — due to his crackdown on disinformation and alleged censorship.
As Bolsonaro takes the stand, the courtroom will be a battleground not only for legal accountability but also for the broader ideological conflict between democratic institutions and populist forces in the country. The trial, broadcast live on the Judiciary’s TV and internet channels, is seen as a pivotal moment in Brazil’s democratic history, 61 years after the 1964 coup that established a bloody 21-year military dictatorship.
Bolsonaro has already been barred from running for office until 2030, but enjoys large political influence in Congress and popularity. If found guilty, he could face up to 40 years in prison. The former president has consistently denied the charges. During a break in court on Monday, he told journalists he was not preparing for prison because there was “no reason to convict” him. “I have a clear conscience,” he said.
Brazil’s Bolsonaro testifies before Supreme Court over alleged coup plan
Ex-president rejects charges; he and seven co-accused risk prison sentences of up to 40 years in this ‘historic’ trial. Bolsonaro, 70, and seven of his close allies were questioned by a panel of top judges on Tuesday as part of a trial over allegations that they devised a multi-step scheme to keep him in office. “There was never any talk of a coup. A coup is an abominable thing … Brazil couldn’t go through an experience like that. And there was never even the possibility of a Coup in my government,” Bolsonares claimed. The other co-defendants are four ex-ministers and the former heads of Brazil’s navy and intelligence agency. The court has already heard from dozens of witnesses from mid-May-May. The trial is the first ever for an attempted coup under a democratic government in Brazil. The defendants are standing trial on five counts: attempting to stage a coup, involvement in an armed criminal organisation, attempted violent abolition of the democratic rule of law, aggravated damage and deterioration of listed heritage.
Brazil’s far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro, testifying for the first time before the nation’s Supreme Court, has denied involvement in an alleged coup plot to remain in power and overturn the 2022 election result that he lost to current leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Bolsonaro, 70, and seven of his close allies were questioned by a panel of top judges on Tuesday as part of a trial over allegations that they devised a multi-step scheme to keep Bolsonaro in office despite his defeat to Lula.
Bolsonaro and his co-defendants risk prison sentences of up to 40 years in a trial dubbed “historic” – the first ever for an attempted coup under a democratic government in Brazil.
“That’s not the case, your honour,” Bolsonaro replied on Tuesday when asked by Judge Alexandre de Moraes – an arch political foe – about “the truthfulness” of the accusations against him.
“There was never any talk of a coup. A coup is an abominable thing … Brazil couldn’t go through an experience like that. And there was never even the possibility of a coup in my government,” Bolsonaro claimed.
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The plot only failed, the charge sheet says, due to a clear lack of military backing.
Bolsonaro, a former military officer himself who has been known to express nostalgia for the country’s past military dictatorship, openly defied Brazil’s judicial system during his 2019-2022 term in office.
On Monday, Bolsonaro’s former right-hand man Mauro Cid – a co-defendant who has turned state’s witness – told the court Bolsonaro had “received and read” a draft decree for the declaration of a state of emergency.
He then “edited” the document, which would have paved the way for measures to “redo the election” and also envisaged the imprisonment of top personalities including Moraes, said Cid.
Cid also testified that he had received cash in a wine crate from Bolsonaro’s former running mate and Defence Minister Walter Braga Netto that investigators say was earmarked to finance an operation by special troops to kill Lula, his Vice President Geraldo Alckmin and Moraes.
‘My conscience is clear’
Apart from Cid, the other co-defendants are four ex-ministers and the former heads of Brazil’s navy and intelligence agency.
Most who have taken the stand so far have rejected the bulk of the accusations in the charge sheet. The defendants are standing trial on five counts: attempting to stage a coup, involvement in an armed criminal organisation, attempted violent abolition of the democratic rule of law, aggravated damage and deterioration of listed heritage.
A coup conviction carries a sentence of up to 12 years. When combined with the other charges, the accused could be sentenced to up to 40 years behind bars.
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Two former army commanders have claimed Bolsonaro hosted a meeting where the declaration of a state of emergency was discussed as a means of overturning Lula’s election victory.
Bolsonaro has denied all the charges, saying he is the target of political persecution.
He has already been banned in a separate court ruling from running in elections until 2030 over abuse of power while in office and casting unfounded doubts on the country’s electronic voting system. However, he is still hoping to run in the 2026 presidential elections.
“They have nothing to convict me; my conscience is clear,” the former leader told reporters on Monday.
Almir Garnier, who was Brazilian Navy commander under Bolsonaro, denied the former president had discussed the declaration of a state of emergency with military officials.
He also denied offering Bolsonaro any Navy troops.
The Supreme Court headquarters in Brasilia was one of the targets of a rioting mob of supporters known as “Bolsonaristas” – who raided government buildings in January 2023 as they urged the military to oust Lula, an insurrection attempt that evoked the supporters of Bolsonaro ally United States President Donald Trump on January 6, 2021.
Bolsonaro was abroad in Florida at the time of this last-gasp effort to keep him in power after the alleged coup planning fizzled. But his opponents have accused him of fomenting the rioting.
Judges will hear from 26 other defendants at a later date. The court has already heard from dozens of witnesses in hearings that began in mid-May.