Bolsonaro’s Ex-Defense Minister Arrested for Obstructing Brazilian Justice in Coup Case

Gen. Walter Braga Netto. X/ @ErikakHilton

December 14, 2024 Hour: 10:39 am

Gen. Braga Netto and others planned unconstitutional actions to prevent the inauguration of Lula da Silva.

On Saturday, the Brazilian Federal Police arrested retired General Walter Braga Netto for obstruction of justice in connection with the attempted coup against President Lula da Silva in 2023.

Braga Netto, who served as Chief of Staff and Defense Minister during the administration of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, was taken into custody at his residence in Rio de Janeiro and will be placed at the disposal of the Army’s Eastern Military Command.

The arrest warrant, issued by the Supreme Court, was executed “against a person who allegedly obstructs the free collection of evidence during the criminal process,” the Federal police stated.

Judges also issued two search and seizure warrants for evidence and a precautionary measure against another individual under investigation, whose identity was not disclosed.

URGENTE! Bolsonaro, Augusto Heleno, Braga Netto, Ramagem e Valdemar Costa Neto acabam de ser indiciados pela Polícia Federal por tentativa de golpe de estado. A CASA CAIU!

BOLSONARO NA CADEIA
SEM ANISTIA

pic.twitter.com/ZWFDJbbMpw
— Lázaro Rosa 🇧🇷 (@lazarorosa25) November 21, 2024

The text reads: “Urgent! Bolsonaro, Augusto Heleno, Braga Netto, Ramagem, and Valdemar Costa Neto have just been charged by the Federal Police with attempted coup d’état. The house fell! Bolsonaro to jail! No amnesty.”

Earlier police investigations determined that Bolsonaro, Braga Netto, and others planned unconstitutional actions to prevent the inauguration of Lula da Silva, which took place on January 1, 2023.

Their plans reportedly included assassinating him and Vice President Geraldo Alckmin. The conspirators also aimed to eliminate Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who was the president of the Electoral Court at the time.

On January 8, 2023, a week after Lula’s inauguration, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters attacked the headquarters of the Presidency, the National Congress, and the Supreme Court in Brasilia, causing extensive damage in an attempt to force a coup.

The Supreme Court has since convicted hundreds of individuals involved in the insurrection on charges including coup d’etat and violent abolition of the rule of law.