2022 Brazilian coup plot

During and after the 2022 Brazilian presidential election, a network of members of former president Jair Bolsonaro's government and of the Brazilian Armed Forces planned to subvert the transition of power to newly elected president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, arrest Supreme Federal Court (STF) justice Alexandre de Moraes and President of the Federal Senate Rodrigo Pacheco, as well as shut down several government institutions, such as the National Congress, the Superior Electoral Court and the Supreme Federal Court, in an attempt to keep Jair Bolsonaro in power and possibly consolidate his control over the federal government.^[1][2] The plans, evidence, and individuals involved in planning a coup d'état were gradually revealed in investigations conducted by public agencies and the press in 2023 and 2024.^[3][4]

Bolsonaro has denied any wrongdoing^[5] and says he "suffer[s] relentless persecution".^[6]

After Bolsonaro supporters stormed the Congress and Supreme Court on 8 January 2023, more than 1,400 people were charged for their alleged role in the riots.^[7] Valdemar Costa Neto, head of the Liberal Party, and three aides to Bolsonaro were arrested on 8 February 2024.^[8][9]

On 21 November 2024, the Federal Police formally accused Bolsonaro and 36 people for an attempt to overthrow Brazil's democratic institutions, including a plot to assassinate Lula da Silva, then-Vice President-elect Geraldo Alckmin and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes.^[10] On 14 December 2024, Bolsonaro's 2022 running mate and former Chief of Staff, Walter Braga Netto, was arrested.^[11] Braga Netto, who was also a former general in the Brazilian army, was considered a prominent figure in the coup plot.^[11]

False news (or fake news) was an element with special prominence in the elections in Brazil in 2014, 2018 and 2022, respectively, being used by many sides with the objective of convincing and manipulating the electors and their votes.^[12][13] Although fake news is not a new phenomenon, widespread access to digital communication tools and the ease of mass spread of messages gave these false informations, in 2022, an leading role in electoral debates, being the focus of containment actions by courts, legislators and media companies.^[14][15]

The Federal Police found a draft announcement of a coup in a search of former Justice minister Anderson Torres's home. The document outlined a plan to implement a state of defense (estado de defesa^[a]) that would nullify the 2022 election results. It also leveled a series of accusations, such as abuse of power and lack of impartiality,^[b] against the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), which had been investigating Bolsonaro and his allies when he was in office.^[16]

Upon his return to Brazil, Anderson Torres was arrested^[17] and detained for four months while Supreme Court justice Alexandre de Moraes investigated his role in the riots.^[c][18] In his testimony to the Federal Police on 2 February 2023, Torres sought to dismiss the coup draft found in his residence as a document "without legal viability", disposable, according to him. He also stated that it was not he who had placed the draft decree in a folder on his shelf, and that he believed his domestic worker had done so while house cleaning. Torres reaffirmed that he had not drafted the document and did not know who did.^[19]

To the accusation of negligence or complicity with the 2022–2023 Brazilian election protests that culminated in the 2023 Brazilian Congress attack on 8 January, Torres, who took office on 2 January as head of security for the Federal District,^[20] claimed he had fulfilled all necessary verification and security measures, relying on reports that did not foresee radical actions by Bolsonaro supporters. Since he thought he had fulfilled his duties, he said, he deemed it appropriate to proceed with a planned family trip to the United States, where he stayed in Orlando, the same city as Bolsonaro, with whom he said he had not coordinated his plans, and with whom he additionally claimed he did not meet.^[19]

Ricardo Cappelli, the intervenor Lula put in charge of Brasília's public security after the riots, called 8 January "a structured sabotage operation" adding:^[20]

"Torres took over as secretary for security (in Brasilia), dismissed the whole chain of command and then took a trip. If that's not sabotage, I don't know what is."^[20]

Regarding the whereabouts of his phone, Torres claimed to have turned it off after his arrest was ordered, due to the number of calls he received, and lost it shortly afterward. He said he did not know where it was but he said he had not left it in the United States. Torres offered to provide the password to his cloud storage account.^[19]

On 15 June 2023, the Brazilian federal police, authorized by Supreme Federal Court justice Alexandre de Moraes, searched residences linked to the senator, who was investigated for obstructing investigations of the 8 January coup attempt in Brasília.^[21] Do Val claimed that the judicial order was a case of political prosecution which he had expected, but not on his birthday.^[22] The senator's Twitter account was also blocked.^[23]

O Globo had access to the federal police report, revealing that do Val had boasted in a number of WhatsApp groups that he had the fate of two presidents of the republic in his hands: "I have a bomb in hand to destroy Bolsonaro and another one to destroy Lula".^[24] He also said he was responsible for Bolsonaro taking refuge in the United States after he lost the 2022 election: "I was invited by him [Bolsonaro] to do this. As member of CCAI [Mixed Intelligence Activities Control Commission], I started to wind it up to see how far it would go. When it was about to happen, I informed him that he would be committing a very serious crime against democracy and, from there, I reported it to the responsible authority. It was because of this that he fled to the USA".^[24]

Do Val returned to the senate on 3 August 2023.^[25]

Audio recordings from 15 December 2022, of former major and Liberal Party (PL) candidate, Ailton Gomes, record instructions to then-Army Commander Freire Gomes to do "(...) o que tem que fazer" (what needs to be done), setting the deadline for the following day for him to make a statement in support of the coup; otherwise, it added, the statement would come from Jair Bolsonaro.^[1]

In a statement proffered as part of a plea deal approved by Justice Alexandre de Moraes, Mauro Cid stated that Jair Bolsonaro met with the commanders of the Armed Forces' three branches to assess the possibility of carrying out a coup, whose draft declaration had been prepared by his advisors, with the purpose of preventing the change of government.^[26] The draft was allegedly delivered by Filipe Martins, advisor for international affairs.^[27] Its content anticipated the arrest of political opponents and justice Alexandre de Moraes.^[28]

The plan was allegedly accepted by the commander of the Brazilian Navy, Admiral Almir Garnier Santos. However, General Marco Antônio Freire Gomes of the Brazilian Army reportedly refused to participate, leading to abandonment. Bolsonaro's defense team has said that the statements are slanderous.^{[29][30][31][32][33][34]}

In addition to the military, Cid would have said that Bolsonaro received, in meetings at the presidential palace, various people with coup plans that involved, among other things, using a misinterpretation of article 142 of the Federal Constitution to entrust the armed forces with exercising the moderating power. Warned about the risks, the then-president would have assumed the sad expression that marked his first public appearance after the end of the elections.^[35]

The discovery of the draft caused widespread repercussions in Brazilian politics, society, and judiciary. Jurists debated the inherent illegality of possessing of such a document, regardless of its use or the success of its use.^[16] Senator Randolfe Rodrigues called for an inquiry by the Supreme Federal Court into the "attempted coup d'état".^[16]

During the media uproar that occurred after the draft's discovery, Torres said on social media that the draft was "most likely" a document that was meant to be discarded and shredded by the Ministry of Justice and Public Security. According to him, the draft was taken without his knowledge and used out of context, fueling "false narratives" against him.^[16] Conversely, his lawyers said that the draft had been handed to him by a "citizen", a narrative inconsistent with internal evidence within the document, clearly written by someone very closely following events.^[36]

Jair Bolsonaro's defense team moved to exclude the document from a parallel investigation of his attempt to discredit the electoral system. This investigation arose from a speech against the Superior Electoral Court, delivered at a meeting with ambassadors in 2022. The request was denied, and the document remained part of the evidence.^[37]

On 30 June 2023, a majority at the Superior Electoral Court declared Jair Bolsonaro ineligible to hold political power until 2030 for his abuse and misuse of communication media during this meeting.^[38]

The Federal Police conducted several forensic examinations and investigations regarding the document, to among other things, trace its circulation among government authorities. According to information gathered by investigators, the draft reached Bolsonaro's aides, as well as members of his reelection committee.^[39] An analysis of the various fingerprints found on the document was carried out by the Federal Police,^[40] furthermore, efforts were made to trace the printer that originated the document through documentoscopy techniques. The forensic examination aims to verify especially if the draft originated from a public agency, given that the forensic technique in use is only effective in tracing medium or large sized printers, and is less accurate for consumer printers.^[41]

On 8 February 2024, the Federal Police carried out thirty-three search and seizure warrants and four preventive detention warrants in Operation Tempus Veritatis ("hour of truth", in Latin). Former special advisor to Bolsonaro, Filipe G. Martins, retired colonel Marcelo Câmara, and major Rafael Martins were arrested. The targets of the search and seizure measures included the president of the Liberal Party, Valdemar Costa Neto, generals Braga Netto, Augusto Heleno, and Paulo Sérgio Nogueira, admiral Almir Garnier Santos, former minister Anderson Torres, and Bolsonaro himself, who had his passport seized.^[42][43]

The following day, on 9 February 2024, a meeting held on 5 July 2022, where then-President Jair Bolsonaro was recorded instructing ministers on the need to act before the elections to avoid a possible "guerrilla" in Brazil, was made public. The video, found on Mauro Cid's computer, was released by journalist Bela Megale, of the newspaper O Globo. Bolsonaro allegedly ordered the dissemination of fraudulent information to try to reverse the situation in the electoral dispute, alleging supposed electoral frauds that were never proven. The meeting also involved other ministers, including the then-Minister of Defense, who reportedly stated that the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) was an "enemy" of the Bolsonarist group. The recording is part of an investigation into an attempted coup involving military personnel and former ministers.^[44][45]

During a meeting, the then minister of the Institutional Security Bureau (GSI), General Augusto Heleno, expressed the intention to infiltrate agents from the Brazilian Intelligence Agency (Abin) into both Jair Bolsonaro's and his main opponent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's electoral campaigns. Heleno mentioned the importance of acting before the elections as to avoid possible upheavals, using terms such as "turning the table" and highlighting the need for decisive action before the ballot. President Bolsonaro interrupted Heleno expressing concern about leaks and suggested that such matters be discussed in a private meeting.^[46]

On November 19, 2024, the Federal Police launched the Operation Counterattack, investigating a plan called "Green and Yellow Dagger", drawn up in 2022 to prevent the innauguration of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Geraldo Alckmin, then president- and vice president-elect of Brazil, respectively. The plan included the murder of Lula, Alckmin and Federal Supreme Court Minister Alexandre de Moraes.^[47] Five suspects were arrested, including four Army special forces soldiers – known as "black kids" – and a federal police officer. Among the military, the reserve general Mario Fernandes, former member of the Bolsonaro government and parliamentary adviser to Eduardo Pazuello, stood out. The operation also involved searches and seizures, suspension of public functions of those involved and other precautionary measures.^[48]

The investigation found that the plan relied on detailed military tactics, such as clandestine monitoring and illicit use of public resources. According to the investigation, the "Green and Yellow Dagger" plan began to be planned on November 12, 2022, at the home of Walter Braga Netto, at the time the defeated vice-presidential candidate on the ticket headed by Jair Bolsonaro.^[49] Evidence was recovered from the electronic devices of Colonel Mauro Cid, Jair Bolsonaro's former aide-de-camp. The operation is part of a larger investigation into anti-democratic acts linked to the 2022 elections and the January 8, 2023 attacks, including violations of the rule of law and embezzlement of public assets.^[50]

On 21 November 2024, the Federal Police formally accused Bolsonaro and 36 people for an attempt to overthrow Brazil's democratic institutions, which included planning and ordering the assassination of then president-elect Lula and vice-persident Geraldo Alckmin as well as Supreme Court justice Alexandre de Moraes in 2022 in order to keep Bolsonaro in power after his term would legally end.^[51][52] Most of the accused are top ranking Brazilian military officers who were appointed to government positions during Bolsonaro's presidency.^[10] The report submitted to the Court by the police stated that Bolsonaro had "full knowledge" about an assassination plot against Lula.^[53] That same day, Lula acknowledged that he was thankful that an attempt to "poison" him failed.^[54]

On December 14, 2024, retired army general Walter Braga Netto, who was also Jair Bolsonario's running mate in the 2022 Brazilian presidential election, was arrested and held in Rio de Janeiro after being be accused of hindering an investigation, as well as having a role, concerning the 2022 coup attempt which was made in an effort to bar 2022 Brazilian presidential election winner Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from taking office.^[11] Leading up to his arrest, searches were carried out at Braga Netto's residence in Rio de Janeiro and also the home of retired colonel Flavio Botelho Peregrino in Brasilia.^[11]

Augusto Heleno (left), Jair Bolsonaro (center) and Walter Braga Netto (right) are among the main figures involved in the possible Coup d'état attempt.

Those being investigated for the possible coup attempt are:^[55]

• Former President of the Republic Jair Messias Bolsonaro
• former Institutional Security Cabinet head General Augusto Heleno Ribeiro Pereira
• former Chief of Staff General Walter Souza Braga Netto
• former Defense Minister General Paulo Sérgio Nogueira de Oliveira

On January 8, 2023, Torres was dismissed from his position as Secretary of Public Security of the Brasilia Federal District due to the 2023 invasion of the Brazilian Congress. The Supreme Court of Brazil also issued an arrest warrant for alleged inaction and collusion with the rioters.^[56] Torres denied the allegations. On January 14, 2023, he was arrested upon his return to Brasília.^[57]

Mauro Cesar Barbosa Cid, known as Colonel Cid, aide-de-camp to former president Jair Bolsonaro, was preemptively arrested as part of Operation Venire, for collaborating in the falsification of COVID-19 vaccination data in the Ministry of Health system.^[58] The seizure of materials at Mauro Cid's house also revealed his collaboration with former major Aylton Gomes [pt] in planning and to recruit military and civilians for the coup.^[59]

Aylton Gomes, an attorney and former major in the Brazilian Army, was a 2022 Liberal Party candidate for state deputy of Rio de Janeiro. He was arrested as part of Operation Venire and identified as one of the leaders of the attempted coup after the Federal Police examined the contents of Mauro Cid's phone. Gomes was responsible for "inciting groups of demonstrators to embrace antidemocratic agendas", according the PF's report, which also highlighted his proximity to the leaders of the 7 September 2021 protests. ^[pt][1]

A former advisor to the Casa Civil [pt] ministry and former number two at the Ministry of Health, Colonel Élcio Franco was accused of plotting to falsify vaccine records. The Federal Police investigation uncovered his coordination with Lieutenant-Colonel Mauro Cid to plan a coup d'état. In audio messages, Franco suggested mobilizing 1,500 men from the Armed Forces to set off the coup.^[2]

Cid and Franco discussed which military units and commanders they thought they could count on. They also discussed using special forces (Batalhão de Operações Especiais) to assassinate then-commander Freire Gomes if he showed an unwillingness to support the coup.^[2]

In early February, police raided the home of Bolsonaro's son, Carlos, in an investigation into misuse of Brazil's spy agency for spying on anti-government officials and civilians (such as ministers of the supreme federal court and superior electoral court, as well as federal deputies, senators and others).^[5]

• Former Minister of Justice Anderson Torres was detained due to evidence of complicity with the protests.^[16]

• March 30: A military crisis was triggered when Brazil's highest military officials resigned in response to President Jair Bolsonaro's attempts to politicize the armed forces.
• September 7: In a demonstration, Bolsonaro swore and said that he would no longer comply with court decisions by Justice Alexandre de Moares. He also said that "Either the head of this power frames his own, or this power will suffer what we do not want".

• July 5: Ministerial reunion where Bolsonaro discussed plans for an possible coup d'état instructed ministers to raise doubts about the electoral process.^[60]
• July 18: Jair Bolsonaro spreads false information about electronic voting machines and attacks the Electoral Court in a meeting with foreign ambassadors, which was broadcast on TV Brasil and on social media.
• October 30: Pro-coup demonstrations begin after the second round of the elections, with roadblocks and camps set up in front of Brazilian Army barracks.
• December 15: Audio recordings between Ailton Gomes and Mauro Cid.^{[citation needed]}
• December 24: Attempted bomb attack at Brasília airport by a group of members of the pro-coup demonstrations.

• January 8: Invasion and vandalism of the National Congress, the Planalto Palace and the Supreme Federal Court by a mob of radical Bolsonaro supporters.
• January 12: The Federal Police find in the home of Anderson Torres, former Secretary of Public Security of the Federal District and former Minister of Justice of the Bolsonaro government, the draft of a decree that would establish a "state of defense" to intervene in the TSE and declare Bolsonaro as president-elect.
• January 14: Anderson Torres is arrested.

• January 23: Anderson Torres' first testimony to the Federal Police.^[36]
• February 2: Anderson Torres' second testimony to the Federal Police.^[61]
• June 30: By a vote of 5 to 2, the Superior Electoral Court declared former President Jair Bolsonaro ineligible for eight years. The practice of abuse of political power and improper use of the media was recognized during a meeting held at the Palácio da Alvorada with foreign ambassadors on July 18, 2022.
• September 7: Jair Bolsonaro's former aide-de-camp, Lieutenant Colonel Mauro Cid, enters into a plea bargain agreement.

• February 8: Operation Tempus Veritatis begins^{[citation needed]}
• February 9: Video is released from the ministries meeting where the coup plan was discussed.^[42]
• March 15: Former Brazilian Army commander General Freire Gomes tells the Federal Police that Bolsonaro presented the draft of the intervention decree in the Electoral Court (TSE) to the commanders of the Armed Forces in late 2022.
• August 27: The Brazilian Army opened a Military Police Inquiry (IPM) to investigate four military personnel for possible crimes related to the drafting of the "Letter to the Army Commander from Senior Active Officers of the Brazilian Army". This letter, according to investigations by the Federal Police, was used as an instrument of pressure on the then Army commander, General Freire Gomes, to support a coup d'état in 2022.
• November 19: Operation Counterattack begins.
• November 21: The Federal Police formally accused Bolsonaro and 36 people (Operation Counterattack) for an attempt to overthrow Brazil's democratic institutions, which included planning and ordering the assassination of then president-elect Lula and vice-persident Geraldo Alckmin as well as Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes in 2022 in order to keep Bolsonaro in power after his term would legally end.
• December 14: Army General Walter Braga Netto, who was Bolsonaro's running mate in 2022 and former Minister of Defense, is arrested by Federal Police.

• Operation Lesa Pátria
• 2021 Brazilian military crisis
• List of coups and coup attempts by country
• 1937 Brazilian coup d'état
• 1945 Brazilian coup d'état
• 1964 Brazilian coup d'état
• Operation Counterattack

Notes

• "Suspeição X Impedimento". Tribunal de Justiça do Distrito Federal e dos Territórios (in Brazilian Portuguese). 26 March 2021. Retrieved 2024-02-10.

• Roush, Ty (8 February 2024). "Ex-Brazilian President Bolsonaro Targeted In Coup Probe: Here's What To Know". Forbes. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
• Sahmkow, Ramon (8 February 2024). "Bolsonaro Surrenders Passport In Brazil 'Coup' Probe". Barron's. Dow Jones & Co. AFP. Retrieved 9 February 2024.

• Constitution of the Federative Republic of Brazil; (in English) pdf; 432 pages
• Constituição da República Federativa do Brasil (in Portuguese)