Mauro Cid opts for silence at the CPMI hearing on January 8

Lieutenant Colonel Mauro Cid, former assistant to former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL), said he will not answer questions from parliamentarians in a hearing at the Joint Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPMI) on January 8. He was summoned to a hearing this Tuesday (11), but said at the beginning of the session that he will rely on the habeas corpus he obtained from the Federal Supreme Court (STF) to not answer questions that could incriminate him. He is preventively arrested for alleged vaccine card fraud.

At the opening of the hearing, Cid gave an explanation about the 27 years of military service, in which he “never had any political interference or appointment”, not even that of the president’s assistant. He listed his responsibilities and tasks, highlighting the “necessary discrimination and distance from public functions”.

The subject of eight investigations into alleged allegations, such as involvement in the “sad episode of January 8”, the lieutenant colonel reiterated that he will use the constitutional right to remain silent and regretted that the PGR did not accept the revocation of his arrest 70 days ago.

The CPMI rapporteur, Senator Eliziane Gama (PSD-MA), began her series of questions by warning Cid about the risks of his actions at the CPMI involving his wife and teenage daughters in the investigation of crimes, such as the alleged adulteration of cards of vaccine. She explored the alleged use of a fraud by his daughter who is studying in the United States. Eliziane said that she can officiate the US government about this fact. Members of the opposition protested, noting that the statements are beyond the scope of the collegiate. Cid remained silent.

The government supporters’ strategy is to embarrass the deponent with questions and statements around alleged signs of planning a coup d’état, according to messages obtained on his cell phone by the Federal Police, and thus try to make him break the silence guaranteed by Justice.