Political allies, the republican and () have investigations in their biography for the same reason: an attempt to subvert an electoral result.
While one was accused of inflating the government, on January 6, 2021, the other was indicted on suspicion of having encouraged and led his supporters to attack the headquarters of the three Powers and leaving a trail of destruction.
In both countries, the respective leaders seek amnesty for themselves and others accused of questioning the electoral result. At the moment, however, the perspectives are very different.
Trump has already freed himself from an investigation and is close to achieving his goal of pardoning allies, while Bolsonaro’s chance of running again and getting amnesty seems increasingly distant.
Just like in Brazil, in the United States, the date has served to mark a dispute of speeches. On one side, there is the defense of democracy, taken over by Trump’s opponents. On the other, the thesis, repeated by the republican, that the invasion was a “patriotic” act.
“January 6”, as the episode is called in the USA, occurred on the day of the certification of the then president-elect in . The process is similar to the diplomacy of the President of the Republic of Brazil. In the country, however, this is done by the TSE (Superior Electoral Court), and in the same year as the election.
In 2021, Trump supporters demonstrated in Washington and walked to the Capitol with the aim of preventing the confirmation of Biden’s victory.
There are reports that at least five people died, including a police officer. Another 140 police officers were injured, American newspapers reported.
. Penal types range from assault to conspiracy. The highest penalty imposed to date was .
In recent years, Biden has held events to remember the invasion. In 2024, already in a campaign mood, he chose a symbolic place in Pennsylvania, linked to the War of Independence, for the ceremony. “By trying to rewrite the events of January 6, Trump is trying to steal history in the same way he tried to steal the election,” he said.
On the same day, the Republican posted messages on social media accusing the FBI of interfering in favor of his opponent in 2020.
In the previous two years, Biden also held ceremonies to honor police officers who were there on the day of the attack and praise the defense of democracy.
Unlike Brazil, where the events of January 8th are attended by governors and ministers of the (Supreme Federal Court), whose headquarters were attacked, in the United States, the events are not attended by members of the Judiciary.
Trump and his supporters say January 6 was a “patriots” event. The Republican has also referred to the invaders as “heroes”.
This year, Biden wrote an article in which he asked Americans not to forget the invasion of the Capitol. On Monday (6), Congress certified Trump’s victory in a protocol session, very different from four years ago.
The Republican, in turn, took the opportunity to post images of supporters in front of Congress and defended the invasion.
He is accused of instigating January 6th to stay in power. But, even before taking office, he had one of his first legal victories. At the end of last year, the Republican opposed, arguing that the Department of Justice does not prosecute presidents in power.
The Republican’s next step will be, as he has already announced. The US president has, according to the Constitution, the right to grant pardons, without the need for the amnesty to be analyzed by any court or government body.
In Brazil, investigations are heading towards a different outcome, according to the expectations of authorities in power today. by late last year for participating in a plot to prevent the inauguration of ().
The Attorney General’s Office on January 8th. The STF has already sentenced 375 of the defendants to prison, most with a sentence of 14 years in prison, but there were those who were punished with up to 17 years and six months. Another 527 people made agreements to comply with alternative measures.
Bolsonaro says there was no attempt to prevent Lula from taking office and insists on approving one in Congress.
Until the middle of last year, the idea had the support of some members of the center and the expectation that it could be approved.
The climate changed, however, after the PF revealed that, in the plot to subvert the election, the assassination of Lula, his vice-president Geraldo Alckmin (PSB) and minister Alexandre de Moraes was planned.
The former president still hopes to get approval to be a candidate in 2026, betting mainly on the TSE. Bolsonaro has already told people close to him that the court will have a composition more favorable to him in the election year, with , appointed by him to the STF, as president.
Even so, an eventual appeal to authorize him to contest the election would end up in the Supreme Court, which today has a majority critical of the former president. The expectation in the Judiciary is that Bolsonaro will be convicted for participating in the coup plot.
