Bolsonaro has already given 5 statements to the PF since leaving government; know which ones

Former president Jair Bolsonaro has already given five statements to the Federal Police in different investigations since leaving the Presidency of the Republic, at the end of 2022, in addition to the one he will give this Thursday afternoon (22). There is also a summons scheduled for the 27th for “harassment” of a whale during a watercraft ride in São Sebastião (SP) last year.

The statements to the PF took place between April and October 2023 amid investigations into the jewelry kit and gifts received from Saudi Arabia (twice), the post he made on Facebook on January 10, 2023 questioning President Luiz Inácio’s victory Lula da Silva (PT), the investigation into the tampering with his vaccination card against Covid-19, and the alleged coup messages sent by businessmen who defended a coup d’état and democratic rupture.

This last case is linked to what led Bolsonaro to be summoned again this Thursday (22) after the Federal Police collected new evidence allegedly involving him, former ministers, former advisors and military personnel. The former president and allies were targets of Operation Tempus Veritatislaunched about two weeks ago in which he pointed out the alleged existence of a group that was working to promote a coup d’état to keep him in power and prevent Lula from taking office in early 2023.

See below when Bolsonaro’s statements were made to the Federal Police and the circumstances of each investigation:

Attempted coup d’état

On October 18, 2023, Bolsonaro remained silent and his defense delivered a written statement to the PF in the investigation into a group of businessmen who allegedly defended a coup d’état and democratic rupture in a WhatsApp group.

At the time, his lawyers questioned the jurisdiction of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) to judge the case, as none of those involved had privileged jurisdiction. Two months earlier, Minister Alexandre de Moraes closed investigations against six businessmen who were part of the group.

The topic, however, resurfaced this year after the Federal Police pointed out the existence of a group formed by the former president, former ministers, former advisors, allies and military personnel who met in July 2022 to allegedly organize a coup to keep him in power, with the presidential election approaching, which ended up being won by Lula.

The investigation gained momentum after the discovery of an alleged draft to declare a state of siege in Brazil and the call for new elections, in addition to arresting ministers Alexandre de Moraes and Gilmar Mendes and the president of Congress, Rodrigo Pacheco (PSD-MG). According to the PF, Bolsonaro was aware of the document and even asked for changes to the text, which did not advance due, among other reasons, to not having the support of part of the Army – commanders were pressured and harassed.

This case led to the call for testimony from those involved, who will be heard simultaneously by the Federal Police at 2:30 pm.

Jewelry given as a gift by Saudi Arabia

On April 5 and August 31, 2023, Bolsonaro testified to the Federal Police in the investigation investigating the receipt of jewelry kits given as gifts by the Saudi Arabian government and which had not been declared to the Estate. The investigation came after it was revealed that a set valued at almost R$17 million was seized by the Federal Revenue Service at São Paulo International Airport, in Guarulhos (SP), and that the former president tried to remove it without registration.

The progress of the investigation led to the launch of Operation Lucas 12:2 in August, which discovered that Bolsonaro’s allies had allegedly tried to sell some of the gifts in the United States. In addition to Bolsonaro, First Lady Michelle Bolsonaro and other people gave statements – the couple, however, remained silent.

Days later, Bolsonaro’s former aide-de-camp, lieutenant colonel Mauro Cid, reached a plea agreement with the courts, pledging to reveal what he knew about the jewelry, the tampering with Bolsonaro’s vaccination card and the supposed draft to declare a state of siege in the country.

Vaccination card tampering

On May 16 last year, Bolsonaro was interviewed by the Federal Police as part of the investigation that found that his vaccination card against Covid-19 had been tampered with, in which Mauro Cid falsified the registration to facilitate his and his family’s entry into the States United States, a country that required the immunization of foreigners during the pandemic.

Bolsonaro stated that he was unaware of such adulteration, and the Comptroller General of the Union (CGU) concluded, in January, that the registered certificate was actually false.

Post on social media after acts of 8/1

Finally, on April 26, 2023, Bolsonaro gave a statement to the PF as part of the investigation into the acts of January 8 that led to the invasion and depredation of the headquarters of the Three Powers, in Brasília. He was summoned by the authority for posting a video on social media two days after the demonstration that ended in a riot, in which he questioned Lula’s victory in the 2022 presidential election.

The former president was then investigated by the STF for alleged incitement to crimes against the democratic rule of law. Bolsonaro’s defense stated, however, that the post was “accidental” and that he “confirmed that the 2022 elections are a turning point”, having even carried out the government transition “from the moment of defeat”.

“At no point will you find any statement from him declining that the election was rigged. At no point is this mentioned,” said lawyer Paulo Amador da Cunha Bueno at the time.

Lawyer Fabio Wajngarten, who acts as Bolsonaro’s spokesman, stated that he was under the influence of medication and posted the video unintentionally, deleting it as soon as he was alerted.