SAO PAULO (AP) — Police indicted Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro and 36 others for allegedly attempting a coup to keep the right-wing leader in office after his defeat in the 2022 election. Already barred from running again in 2026 for a different case, he could now land in jail and see his influence further diminished.
Brazil's federal police said the sealed findings in Thursday's indictment were being delivered to Brazil’s Supreme Court, which will refer them to Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet, who will decide whether to formally charge Bolsonaro and put him on trial, or toss the investigation.
Gonet is already under pressure from his legal peers to move forward with the various investigations related to the ex-president, local media have reported. And politicians say if Bolsonaro does stand trial at the Supreme Court there will be a race among his allies and rivals to seize his influence with voters.
“Bolsonaro is no longer the sole leader of the right-wing. He is coming out of mayoral elections in which most of his candidates lost. All these probes don't help him at all,” said Carlos Melo, a political science professor at the Insper university in Sao Paulo.
Melo added that “the governor of Sao Paulo, Tarcisio de Freitas, the radical candidate for Sao Paulo mayorship Pablo Marcal, the governor of Goias state, Ronaldo Caiado ... There are politicians lining up to court Bolsonaro voters.”
Bolsonaro told the website Metropoles that he was waiting for his lawyer to review the indictment, reportedly about 700 pages long. But he said he would fight the case and dismissed the investigation as being the result of “creativity.”
The former president has denied all claims he tried to stay in office after his narrow electoral defeat in 2022 to leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro has faced a series of legal threats since then.
Police said in a brief statement that the Supreme Court had agreed to reveal the names of all 37 people who were indicted “to avoid the dissemination of incorrect news.”
Dozens of former and current Bolsonaro aides also were indicted, including Gen. Walter Braga Netto, who was his running mate in the 2022 campaign; former Army commander Gen. Paulo Sérgio Nogueira de Oliveira; Valdemar Costa Neto, the chairman of Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party; and his veteran former adviser, Gen. Augusto Heleno.
Other investigations led to indictments for Bolsonaro's alleged roles in smuggling diamond jewelry into Brazil without properly declaring them and in directing a subordinate to falsify his and others’ COVID-19 vaccination statuses. Bolsonaro has denied any involvement in either.
Another probe found that he had abused his authority to cast doubt on the country's voting system, and judges barred him from running again until 2030.
Still, he has insisted that he will run in 2026, and many in his orbit were heartened by the recent U.S. election win of Donald Trump, despite his own swirling legal threats.
Creomar de Souza, a political analyst of Dharma Political Risk and Strategy, said the indictment is “obviously bad” for Bolsonaro, but added the right-wing leader could still continue his bid to run again sooner than he is currently allowed to. He is barred from running in the 2026 elections.
"The idea of due legal course is a struggling one in the political arena these days. This could give those targeted a chance to portray themselves as being persecuted," de Souza told the AP. “We can't rule out that the tension from indictments like this might well favor Bolsonaro to some extent.”
An indictment over the alleged coup attempt means the investigation has gathered evidence of "a crime and its author,” said Eloísa Machado de Almeida, a law professor at Getulio Vargas Foundation, a university in Sao Paulo. She said she believed there was enough legal grounds for the prosecutor-general to file charges.
Bolsonaro's allies in Congress have been negotiating a bill to pardon individuals who stormed the Brazilian capital and rioted on Jan. 8, 2023, in a failed attempt to keep the former president in power. Analysts have speculated that lawmakers want to extend the legislation to cover the former president himself.
However, efforts to push a broad amnesty bill may be “politically challenging” given recent attacks on the judiciary and details emerging in investigations, Machado said.
On Tuesday, Federal Police arrested four military and a Federal Police officer, accused of plotting to assassinate Lula and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes as a means to overthrow the government following the 2022 elections.
And last week, a man carried out a bomb attack in the capital Brasilia. He attempted to enter the Supreme Court and threw explosives outside, killing himself.
FILE - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro votes in the run-off presidential election as he runs for another term in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Oct. 30, 2022. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado, Pool, File)
FILE - Police stand on the other side of a window at Planalto Palace that was shattered by supporters of Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro after they stormed the official workplace of the president in Brasilia, Brazil, Jan. 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres, File)
FILE - Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro prepares to speak to the press in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, June 30, 2023, the day that judges ruled him ineligible to run for political office until 2030 after concluding that he abused his power and cast unfounded doubts on the country's electronic voting system. (AP Photo/Thomas Santos, File)
ATLANTA (AP) — Aaron Philo scrambled for a go-ahead 18-yard touchdown run with 22 seconds remaining and Georgia Tech escaped with a 30-29 win over N.C. State on Thursday night after losing the lead with less than 2 minutes remaining.
Georgia Tech (7-4, 5-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) lost the lead with 1:30 remaining when Hollywood Smothers broke free for a 53-yard touchdown run for N.C. State (5-6, 2-5).
Philo had the answer with his go-ahead scoring run that he said was like a childhood dream.
“That was the moment you dream of, ever since you were a little kid,” Philo said. “I couldn’t ask for a better moment.”
Georgia Tech coach Brent Key said Philo “was smart and saw it and took off and ran.”
Philo's last-minute drama almost wasn't enough. The Wolfpack moved to the Georgia Tech 41 but Collin Smith's last-second, 58-yard field goal attempt was wide left.
The Wolfpack had three scoring runs by freshman quarterback CJ Bailey, but Bailey also threw three interceptions.
E.J. Lightsey returned an interception 21 yards for a touchdown for Georgia Tech, which led 23-21 before Smothers' go-ahead scoring run. Bailey ran for a 2-point conversion as N.C. State (6-5, 3-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) became bowl eligible.
Romello Height's interception of a Bailey pass with 6:44 remaining set up Haynes King's 3-yard scoring run.
Georgia Tech capped a perfect 5-0 home schedule at Bobby Dodd Stadium. The Wolfpack fell short in their bid to become bowl eligible.
Bailey showed his athleticism on his 16-yard scoring run late in the opening quarter and a 28-yard touchdown scamper on the first play of the fourth.
Georgia Tech led only 13-7 at halftime after being held without an offensive touchdown. Aidan Birr kicked field goals of 44 and 41 yards. Birr added a 45-yarder in the third quarter for a 16-7 lead. The kick was set up by Philo's 49-yard pass to Eric Singleton.
Even with all the late-game drama, N.C. State coach Dave Doeren still said Lightsey's first-quarter interception was painful.
“We did a lot of good things there third and fourth quarter but the opening shovel pass that ricochets into their guy’s hands was a tough play for us,” Doeren said.
N.C. State: Bailey, who became the starter when Grayson McCall retired following concussion issues, couldn't lead a consistent drive in the first half other than on his inventive scoring run. ... DE Davin Vann was knocked out of the game with an injury early in the second period. Vann, who leads the nation with five forced fumbles, was escorted to the locker room.
Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets struggled to establish their running game after rushing for 281 yards in their 28-23 upset of then-No. 4 Miami on Nov. 9. Jamal Haynes ran for only 36 yards on 13 carries and King ran for only 18 yards on eight carries while Philo handled most of the snaps at quarterback. Philo completed 19 of 33 passes for a career-high 265 yards.
N.C. State: Closes its regular season at North Carolina on Nov. 30.
Georgia Tech: Plays at No. 8 Georgia on Nov. 29.
Georgia Tech linebacker E.J. Lightsey (2) runs in a touchdown celebrating after an interception during the first half of an NCAA college football game North Carolina State, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Georgia Tech wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr. (2) misses a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina State, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Georgia Tech wide receiver Eric Singleton Jr. (2) misses a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina State, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Georgia Tech linebacker E.J. Lightsey (2) runs in a touchdown after an interception during the first half of an NCAA college football game North Carolina State, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
North Carolina State wide receiver Kevin Concepcion (10) runs the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Georgia Tech defensive back Clayton Powell-Lee (5) tackles Georgia Tech wide receiver Abdul Janneh Jr. (4) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Georgia Tech linebacker E.J. Lightsey (2) celebrates a touchdown after an interception during the first half of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina State, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Georgia Tech linebacker E.J. Lightsey (2) celebrates a touchdown after an interception during the first half of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina State, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
North Carolina State quarterback CJ Bailey (16) runs the ball in for a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Georgia Tech, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Georgia Tech quarterback Aaron Philo (12) runs the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina State, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
North Carolina State quarterback CJ Bailey (16) runs the ball in for a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Georgia Tech, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Georgia Tech linebacker E.J. Lightsey (2) runs in a touchdown after an interception during the first half of an NCAA college football game North Carolina State, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Georgia Tech linebacker E.J. Lightsey (2) celebrates a touchdown after an interception during the first half of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina State, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King (10) runs the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against North Carolina State, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
North Carolina State quarterback CJ Bailey (16) runs the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Georgia Tech, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Georgia Tech linebacker Trenilyas Tatum (0) blocks a pass thrown by North Carolina State quarterback CJ Bailey (16) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Georgia Tech linebacker Trenilyas Tatum (0) blocks a pass thrown by North Carolina State quarterback CJ Bailey (16) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Georgia Tech wide receiver Avery Boyd (9) runs the ball against North Carolina State linebacker Sean Brown (0) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
