In the first week of the so-called “crucial core” trial of the coup plot, which includes former President Jair Bolsonaro, defendants ‘defenses sought to counter their clients’ participation in an attempted coup attempt.
In addition to the question of Lieutenant Colonel Mauro Cid’s denunciation, former Bolsonaro orders, lawyers acted to push their clients from meetings and discussions regarding the attempted coup.
Evidence compiled by the Federal Police, however, and highlighted by the Attorney General’s Office (PGR), can be considered by the magistrates to dismantle a series of arguments.
Braga Netto’s lawyer, for example, José Luis Oliveira, known as Juca, said the military did not “participate with January 8”.
– Eminent prosecutor Paulo Gonet mentions a video attached by the defendant’s collaborating defendant of a dialogue by Braga Netto that would have been in a camp. It’s a lie. It’s a lie. This video is not in the barracks. This video is in the Palace [da Alvorada]. The PGR itself, even, then comes back in it. (…) On January 8, he was in Rio de Janeiro playing volleyball on the beach – he said.
The investigation, however, showed that the military acted to incite the protesters. Among the elements cited by the police is the fact that Braga Netto received protesters on the Libral Party Committee (PL), in Lake Sul, in Brasilia, after Bolsonaro’s defeat at the polls. Another point mentioned is a video recorded in front of the Alvorada Palace, in which Braga Netto appears talking to protesters:
Continues after advertising
– You don’t lose faith. It’s just what I can say to you now (…) you have to take a break.
One of former President Jair Bolsonaro’s lawyers Celso Vilardi countered in his oral support the accusation that Bolsonaro made adjustments to the so-called “coup draft”, which provided for the decree of a state of defense and the arrest of authorities, such as Minister Alexandre de Moraes. The defender stated that the information that Bolsonaro “wiped” the draft is only in the denunciation of Lieutenant Colonel Mauro Cid, former president of orders from the former president.
– Where does the issue of arrest of ministers arise from the arrest of Minister Alexandre de Moraes? Of his testimony. The complaint reproduces this. The complaint speaks, confirmed the adjustment made by Jair Bolsonaro, who kept the arrest of Minister Alexandre de Moraes. The one of the wry the draft is the whistleblower, ”he said.
Continues after advertising
The information, however, also appears in an audio sent by Cid to the former Army Commander Freire Gomes, seized by the PF.
The message was sent on December 9, 2022, two days after the meeting Bolsonaro had with the commanders of the Armed Forces, when he presented the coup decree and called for support. According to the complaint, only the then commander of the Navy, Almir Garnier, also a defendant in the process, made the troops available.
– The president has received several pressures to take a heavier measure, where he will obviously use the forces, right? But he knows, he still continues that idea that he came out of the last meeting, but the pressure he receives is from everyone. He’s… it’s the face of agro, it’s some deputies, right? So the pressure he has received is very large. Today, what did he do this morning? He wiped the decree, right? Those considers the Lord saw, he wiped the decree, made the decree much more summarized, ”said Cid in the audio.
Continues after advertising
Lawyer Andrew Fernandes, who acts for the defense of former Defense Minister Paulo Sérgio Nogueira, said the general “actively acted to demoid the president of the Republic of any measure”. It was the first time the defender said that the general acted in this regard.
– What was the fear of General Paulo Sérgio? May some military leadership raise your arm and break, ”he said. According to the lawyer, in the face of the scenario the then minister would have been against any coup action and acted to prevent any exception measure.
In the final allegations, however, the PGR highlighted the existence of thorough evidence of a meeting on December 14, 2022, where a new version of the coup decree, already with adjustments made by former President Bolsonaro, was presented by the general to the commanders of the three forces.
Continues after advertising
“The meeting was intended to press the military again to adhere to the insurrection, thus ensuring armed support for exception measures that should be adopted,” said PGR. In testimony, Brigadier Baptista Junior, who was head of the Air Force in the Bolsonaro government, confirmed the content of the meeting.
-Of course, based on everything that was happening, I asked him: “This document” -the document was at the table, inside a plastic, ”I said:“ Does this document foresee the non -assumption on January 1st of the president -elect? ” And he said, “Yes.” And then I said, I do not even admit to receive this document, I will not be here. I got up, left the room and left, ”he pointed out as highlighted by the accusation in the final allegations.
