STF Minister says that “extremist groups” will continue to be investigated for attacks on the Supreme Court
Minister Alexandre de Moraes, of the Federal Supreme Court, defended the maintenance of the investigation into fake newsto combat coordinated attacks on the Judiciary. In a report on the events of January 8, 2023, released this Wednesday (April 29, 2026), the minister’s office stated that the investigation expanded its activities to encompass all attacks on fraudulent news that affect the security of the Supreme Court.
The statement was published in a context of criticism of the duration of the investigation, which completed 7 years in March this year. Internally, a section of ministers argues that the investigation no longer has any reason to continue, while others believe that the investigation should remain an instrument of defense against possible attacks on the Court.
In the report, Moraes recalled that the investigation had its constitutionality validated by the Court and served to identify the “modus operandi of a political group that turned into a true criminal organization”.
The minister understands that the investigations made it possible to detain coordinated action with the “the objective of weakening democratic institutions and enabling the installation of discretion, with the maintenance of the group linked to the then President of the Republic in power”in reference to former President of the Republic Jair Bolsonaro (PL), convicted of an attempted coup d’état.
“Society, the Judiciary and Brazilian institutions have shown their strength and resilience, despite the regrettable maintenance of a harmful, radical and violent political polarization fueled by extremist groups that persist in criminal practices, including through their ‘digital militias’ and which will continue to be investigated within the scope of INQ 4781 and held responsible for frontal attacks on the Judiciary, especially the FEDERAL SUPREME COURT, which will continue defending constitutionally enshrined judicial independence and the Democratic Rule of Law”declared the minister.
According to the minister, the axes of the investigations indicated that the defendants convicted of a coup d’état acted with:
- virtual attacks on political opponents;
- attacks on institutions, especially the STF and the TSE (Superior Electoral Court);
- attacks on the electoral system;
- attempted coup d’état and violent abolition of the Democratic Rule of Law.
850 convictions for January 8th
The report entitled “Unshakable Democracy: Anti-democratic acts and attempted coup d’état on January 8, 2023” shows that around 1,258 investigations were launched linked to the acts that culminated in the invasion of the buildings of the Three Powers.
The document also shows that 850 people were convicted of crimes in relation to January 8th. The most serious sentence was given to former president Jair Bolsonaro, with 27 years and 3 months in prison.
Total sanctions: 1,402
- ANPPS: 552 defendants (39.37%)
- 1 Also: 404 defendants (28.82%)
- 14 Years: 213 defendants (15.19%)
- 17 Years: 58 defendants (4.14%)
- 16 Years and 6 Months: 57 defendants (4.07%)
- 13 Years and 6 Months: 42 defendants (3.00%)
- 2 Years and 5 Months: 22 defendants (1.57%)
- 16 Years: 7 defendants (0.50%)
- 21 Years: 6 defendants (0.43%)
- 11 Years and 6 Months: 5 defendants (0.36%)
- 5 Years: 5 defendants (0.36%)
- 12 Years: 4 defendants (0.29%)
- 11 Years and 11 Months: 4 defendants (0.29%)
- 24 Years: 3 defendants (0.21%)
- 13 Years and 8 Months: 2 defendants (0.14%)
- 3 Years: 2 defendants (0.14%)
- 27 Years and 3 Months: 1 defendant (0.07%)
- 26 Years and 6 Months: 1 defendant (0.07%)
- 26 Years: 1 defendant (0.07%)
- 24 Years and 6 Months: 1 defendant (0.07%)
- 19 Years: 1 defendant (0.07%)
- 16 Years, 1 Month and 15 Days: 1 defendant (0.07%)
- 15 Years and 6 Months: 1 defendant (0.07%)
- 14 Years and 6 Months: 1 defendant (0.07%)
- 14 Years and 2 Months: 1 defendant (0.07%)
- 10 Years and 9 Months: 1 defendant (0.07%)
- 8 Years and 6 Months: 1 defendant (0.07%)
- 7 Years and 6 Months: 1 defendant (0.07%)
- 3 Years and 5 Months: 1 defendant (0.07%)
- 2 Years: 1 defendant (0.07%)
- 1 Year and 11 Months: 1 defendant (0.07%)
- 3 Months: 1 defendant (0.07%)
