Brazil indicts former President Jair Bolsonaro over alleged coup attempt following 2022 loss

Brazilian police on Thursday indicted the country's former President Jair Bolsonaro and 36 aides over allegations that the former leader attempted a coup to keep him in office after he lost reelection in 2022.

Bolsonaro, who lost the 2022 elections to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, has denied any role in trying to stay in power, and he never directly challenged the election results. However, he did allegedly share a video on social media questioning the legality of the election.

Police said their 700-page report will be delivered to Brazil’s Supreme Court, which will decide whether to pursue the charges against Bolsonaro or dismiss the case, according to the Associated Press. The court's decision is expected in the coming days.

The former president is also being investigated for potentially smuggling diamonds into the country without properly declaring them, and allegations that he and 16 other people falsified their COVID vaccine records to make it appear that they received the shot. He has denied any wrongdoing in both cases.

Judges have also barred Bolsonaro from running for president until 2030, because of his alleged efforts to cast doubt on the country's electoral system. The next presidential election is in 2026.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.