Brazil Federal Police Raid Bolsonaro’s Home and Liberal Party Headquarters Amid Coup Plot Investigation

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro

razil’s federal police executed search warrants on Friday at the residence of former President Jair Bolsonaro and the headquarters of his Liberal Party, as part of an investigation ordered by the country’s Supreme Court. The move marks an escalation in the legal proceedings surrounding Bolsonaro’s alleged efforts to overturn the 2022 presidential election results.

While the federal police did not name Bolsonaro in their public statement, his press office confirmed the raids. The investigation is tied to accusations that Bolsonaro conspired to stage a coup to prevent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva from taking office in January 2023 after defeating him at the polls.

Bolsonaro, known for his close political alliance with former U.S. President Donald Trump during their respective terms, has received public support from Trump, who called the legal case a “witch hunt” and urged Brazil to drop the charges.

The search warrants were issued by Brazil’s Supreme Court, which is overseeing the trial against Bolsonaro on charges of plotting to undermine the country’s democratic transition of power. The probe includes examining potential violations of constitutional order and the possible orchestration of anti-democratic acts in the lead-up to Lula’s inauguration.

Bolsonaro has denied wrongdoing, but the case continues to draw significant attention both domestically and internationally, especially in light of comparisons between his post-election behavior and that of Trump following the 2020 U.S. presidential election.