The charges against Jair Bolsonaro are serious and could result in a prison sentence of more than 40 years. The Supreme Court has already begun the sentencing process. Justice Cármen Lúcia, who cast the deciding vote, stated that Bolsonaro was responsible for sparking the events of January 8, 2023, when thousands of his supporters attacked and vandalized the Supreme Court, the presidential palace, and Congress.
She found him guilty on all five counts, which include: attempting to carry out a coup, leading an armed criminal organization, trying to violently overthrow Brazil’s democratic system, and two additional charges linked to the destruction of government property during the riots in Brasília.
Bolsonaro has denied all wrongdoing, calling the trial a politically motivated “witch hunt.” His legal team is preparing to file appeals against the ruling.
Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro did not attend any of the final trial sessions, with his lawyers citing health concerns as the reason he followed proceedings from his home in Brasília. Bolsonaro has suffered ongoing health issues since being stabbed during the 2018 election campaign. Since early August, he has been under house arrest after police accused him and his son, Eduardo, of attempting to interfere with the trial.
His lawyer was present in court but walked out after Justice Cármen Lúcia announced Bolsonaro’s guilt on charges of attempting a coup and leading an armed conspiracy. The case against Bolsonaro extended beyond the January 8, 2023 riots; prosecutors argued that he had been planning to stay in power well before, pressuring military leaders to support a coup and spreading baseless claims of election fraud. They also alleged that he was aware of a plot to assassinate President Lula, his vice-presidential candidate, and a Supreme Court justice.
Justice Lúcia compared the attempted coup to a “virus” that, if left unchecked, could destroy society. She expressed hope that the trial would serve as a cure to prevent such threats from returning.
Bolsonaro’s supporters have criticized the proceedings, claiming they are politically motivated to block him from contesting the 2026 presidential election. Bolsonaro is already banned from holding public office until 2030 for spreading false claims about Brazil’s voting system, though he had declared his intention to challenge that ban in order to run again in 2026.
Internationally, the case has drawn attention from former U.S. president Donald Trump, a close Bolsonaro ally. Trump imposed a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports, citing Bolsonaro’s treatment by the courts as justification, and sanctioned Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversaw the trial. Reacting to Bolsonaro’s conviction, Trump said it was “very surprising” and compared it to his own legal challenges in the United States, calling Bolsonaro “a good man.”
Eduardo Bolsonaro, Jair Bolsonaro’s son, told Reuters that he expected further U.S. measures in response to the verdict. He accused Brazil of moving toward dictatorship and said he would push for stronger American action.
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