In a prior response to the complaint by coup d’état, lawyers say they accessed only 7 cell phones and pieces add up to more than 81,000 pages
The defense of the former president (PL) again said on Thursday (6.mar.2025) to (Supreme Federal Court) that does not have access to the integrality of the evidence obtained by the PF (Federal Police) used to participate in an attempted coup d’état in 2022.
Lawyers say the amount of documents in the process is a strategy of the prosecution to “confuse” the defense. According to the team led by Celso Vilardi, the records total more than 81,000 pages.
“We are not facing a failure, but an accusatory tactic. Situation that today has name and is vehemently condemned. This is unacceptable ‘Document Dump’, also known as ‘Bulk Discovery’ or ‘Hide and Seek Play’. This is the “supply of a high volume of documents in order to make it difficult to examine the applicant”they said.
According to the defense, only selected excerpts from the material obtained by the PF (Federal Police) were released. Says they only analyzed 7 cell phones in full, and there were 38 search and seizure warrants, in which “Dozens of cell phones and hundreds of computers, pen drives and hard drives have been seized”. It also mentions that it did not have access to the full mirroring of the former president’s own cell phone, by the corporation in 2023.
“You cannot give up knowing the fullness of the test. Due process of law does not allow such limitation; There is no defense without these same elements analyzed completely by the prosecution are also presented to lawyers ”wrote the lawyers.
Prior defense
The defense of the former president to the Court a prior response to the complaint filed by the PGR (Attorney General’s Office). Among others, they denied Bolsonaro’s participation in a coup articulation, called for the cancellation of Mauro Cid, Lieutenant Colonel who acted as a helper of Bolsonaro orders, and also that the process was tried in the Supreme Plenary.
Bolsonaro is accused of commanding a criminal organization and participating in the attempted violent abolition of the Democratic Rule of Law and a coup d’état. It was also denounced for the crimes of qualified damage with violence and deterioration against the overturned heritage.
In February, 34 people were reported by the same crimes, including former minister and former vice on Bolsonaro’s plate, General Braga Netto, in the inquiry that investigates an attempted coup to prevent the inauguration of (PT).
Other accused also presented their defenses. Here’s what each one answered:
- Mauro Cid – denied that he was coerced by Minister Alexandre de Moraes, asked to maintain all the terms signed in his award -winning collaboration agreement and also his acquittal;
- Army General and former GSI Minister (International Security Office), Augusto Heleno – He said that the PGR did not show its participation in the coup plan and asked the trial to be transferred to the lower court;
- Former Defense Minister Paulo Sérgio Nogueira – denied that he acted to effect a coup; and
- Former ABIN director and federal deputy Alexandre Ramagem (PL-RJ) – He asked for the rejection of the complaint, arguing that there is no concrete evidence of his participation.
General Braga Netto and former Navy Commander Admiral Almir Garnier have until Friday (7.mar.2025) at 11:59 pm to present their defenses. The 2 deadline is different because they were summoned 1 day after the other reported.
