Brazil’s Federal Police have formally indicted former President Jair Bolsonaro and his son, congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro, for allegedly attempting to obstruct justice in an investigation into a suspected coup plot. The charges were detailed in a report submitted to the country’s Supreme Court (STF), according to the Globo media group’s G1 news site.
In a related development, evangelical pastor Silas Malafaia, a known Bolsonaro ally, was subjected to a personal search upon arriving at Rio de Janeiro’s Galeão airport from Lisbon. He was subsequently taken to testify at the Federal Police headquarters, where his cell phone, passport, and other unspecified materials were seized.
The police report states that investigators recovered previously deleted audio messages and conversations from Jair Bolsonaro’s phone. These communications, which involved Malafaia and Eduardo Bolsonaro, are alleged to bolster evidence of attempts to intimidate Brazilian authorities and hinder the investigation into the suspected coup conspiracy. Among the messages identified were discussions between Bolsonaro and allies about potentially seeking political asylum from Argentine President Javier Milei.
The inquiry was initiated in May following a request from the Office of the Prosecutor General (PGR), which had flagged Eduardo Bolsonaro’s alleged role in seeking U.S. sanctions against Brazilian Supreme Court justices. The case has led to criminal proceedings against Jair Bolsonaro, who is already under house arrest for defying court orders issued by Justice Alexandre de Moraes. Moraes has extended the ongoing investigation by an additional 60 days, citing the need for further evidence gathering.
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