The Federal Police (PF) concluded that the reserve general Walter Braga Netto, former minister of the Civil House and candidate for deputy on the plate of Jair Bolsonaro in 2022, was one of the central figures in the articulation of strategies to discredit the Brazilian electoral system and prepare the land for a coup d’état.
The information is contained in a new report sent on Wednesday (18) to Minister Alexandre de Moraes of the Supreme Federal Court (STF). The document is based on messages found on Colonel Flávio Botelho Peregrino, former advisor to Braga Netto.
The general has been pre-imprisoned since December 2023, accused of trying to obstruct the courts and access confidential information from the former joint of orders Mauro Cid.
Boconist group produced and spread false information, says PF
According to the PF report, Braga Netto was part of a group of Whatsapp called “Elections 2022”, in which messages were circulated on the preparation of documents with false allegations of fraud at the electronic ballot box. The content would be used as the basis for judicial questions in the Superior Electoral Court (TSE).
The messages indicate that group members – who included advisors and military – intended to deliver a report with information manipulated to the then Minister of Defense, Paulo Sérgio Nogueira. The objective was to present the material to the TSE, in order to raise unfounded suspicions about the electoral process.
The PF also points out that this false information supported the action brought by the Liberal Party (PL) in the TSE, which questioned the result of the first round of the 2022 elections, won by Lula.
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Influencers and misinformation
The inquiry also indicates that the group promoted a misinformation network that included the sending of “false studies” to digital influencers aligned with pockets. Among them, Argentine Fernando Cerimedo, who published video content questioning the electronic ballot boxes, based on material supplied by members of the Braga Netto circle.
These actions would be part of a broader movement of erosion of trust in democratic institutions, according to researchers.
Mauro Cid’s denunciation and attempted irregular access
Another important revelation of the report concerns Mauro Cid’s award -winning denunciation. The PF states that Colonel Flávio Botelho, subordinate of Braga Netto, reported having had prior access to the content of the collaboration agreement. In conversation with a journalist, Botelho says: “I believe someone had access to ICD and has passed the information to me.”
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The PF considers this episode more evidence of Bolsonaro’s attempt to illegally monitor investigations and control damage.
September 7, 2021 already indicated “coup intent,” says PF
The report points out that the coup joints were not limited to the post-election period of 2022. According to investigators, the coup rhetoric was already underway during the acts of September 7, 2021, when Bolsonaro attacked STF ministers and threatened not to comply with court decisions.
An exchange of messages between Braga Netto and Mauro Cid, after the publication of a letter from the then president trying to retreat from the threats, reinforces the seriousness of intentions. Cid wrote, “Pr picking up a lot. I hope you don’t come crumbs. I’ve seen this movie.” Braga Netto replied, “But now we can turn the table […] He goes to the media, tells the agreed and we broke. ”
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Last week, Braga Netto testified to Moraes and denied any involvement with coup plans. The defense of the general requested a caressing with Mauro Cid, which was scheduled for next Tuesday (24).
Braga Netto’s legal team tries to counteract the accusations that he would have participated in the plan called “Green and Yellow Dagger”-an articulation that would even murder authorities-and denies that the general has given Money to Mauro Cid in a wine bag to finance military personnel from the so-called Kids-black group, an army elite squad.
