Bolsonaro Denies Coup Allegations in First Supreme Court Testimony as Brazil Grapples with 2023 Riot Fallout
- Victor Nwoko
- Jun 11
- 4 min read
Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro testified before the Supreme Court for the first time on Tuesday, firmly denying involvement in an alleged plot to overturn the 2022 presidential election results and remain in power. Bolsonaro, 70, faces serious criminal charges that could lead to decades in prison if convicted.
The proceedings come amid national scrutiny following the violent events of January 8, 2023, when rioters stormed the Supreme Court, Congress, and the presidential palace in Brasília. Bolsonaro called the rioters “crazy,” dismissing them as extremists rather than coup plotters. Appearing composed, Bolsonaro testified alongside seven close allies, responding to allegations that they orchestrated a scheme to reject President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s election win.
The Supreme Court panel, led by Justice Alexandre de Moraes, had initially planned to hear the eight defendants through Friday, but concluded the hearings by Tuesday due to the rapid pace of questioning. Legal analysts expect sentencing decisions in the second half of the year.
“There was never any talk of a coup. A coup is an abominable thing,” Bolsonaro said. “Brazil couldn’t go through an experience like that. And there was never even the possibility of a coup in my government.”
Bolsonaro acknowledged discussing "possibilities" with military leaders after Lula's victory, but claimed those discussions remained within constitutional bounds, offering no specifics. His testimony lasted just over two hours, during which he appeared unusually amicable toward Justice de Moraes — a key target in what prosecutors describe as a failed assassination plot connected to the broader coup scheme.
The charges include attempting to stage a coup, participation in an armed criminal organization, attempted violent abolition of democratic law, aggravated damage, and destruction of protected national property. The most serious count—attempted coup—carries a sentence of up to 12 years, while convictions on all charges could amount to decades of imprisonment.
Bolsonaro maintained his long-standing claim of political persecution, asserting that the accusations “do not hold.” He insisted he lacked the means or opportunity to impose a state of siege, stating, “We didn’t have even a minimally solid base to do anything.”
Other key defendants include Bolsonaro’s former running mate and ex-defense minister Walter Braga Netto, as well as former ministers Paulo Sérgio Nogueira, Anderson Torres, and Augusto Heleno, and former aide Mauro Cid. Cid, who entered a plea bargain with federal police, claimed Bolsonaro personally read and edited a document that aimed to annul the election results. Cid also said Bolsonaro refused to dismantle supporter camps calling for military intervention.
Former defense minister Nogueira testified that he encouraged Bolsonaro to publicly concede in December 2022. He downplayed the January 8 riot as “a peaceful demonstration that ended in hooliganism.”
Brazilian authorities believe the post-election unrest was designed to incite military intervention and oust Lula. Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet contends the conspiracy involved plans to assassinate both Lula and Justice de Moraes — a plot code-named “Green and Yellow Dagger.” The plan allegedly failed when conspirators failed to secure military support.
Bolsonaro claimed he only learned of the assassination plot through media reports. “If it had been proposed, in my view, it would have been rejected, with immediate action taken,” he told the court.
Braga Netto testified from prison, denying any knowledge of the alleged document. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court plans to question 26 more defendants in the coming weeks, adding to the dozens of witness testimonies already collected since mid-May.
During his presidency (2019–2022), Bolsonaro frequently clashed with the judiciary and expressed admiration for Brazil’s former military dictatorship. In 2023, he was barred from running for office until 2030 due to his attacks on the country’s electoral system.
Legal scholars view the trial as a landmark moment in Brazil’s democratic history. “It’s the first time we see people accused of an attempted coup being subjected to a criminal trial with due process,” said Thiago Bottino, a law professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation. He emphasized that the 1988 Constitution remains a relatively recent democratic safeguard. “Brazil is showing that it has the democratic maturity to investigate and, if necessary, hold those responsible accountable.”
Following his testimony, Bolsonaro commented online: “I did not request to be silent. I didn’t look for excuses. I answered every question with transparency and conviction. Today I leave the court in peace and more confident that I will be the next president to help take our country out of this mess.”
Despite his claims, Bolsonaro remains barred from the 2026 presidential race — a restriction that could be extended depending on the trial’s outcome.
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