Prison Looms for Brazil’s Bolsonaro After Court Rejects His Appeal
Brazil’s far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro faces imminent prison after Supreme Court judges unanimously rejected his appeal against a 27-year sentence for masterminding a failed coup following his 2022 election loss to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro, convicted in September, was found guilty of plotting to prevent Lula from taking office, with prosecutors alleging the scheme included plans to assassinate Lula and a Supreme Court judge—a plot averted due to lack of military support. With this latest decision, Bolsonaro’s legal team has only five days to file a final appeal, which can be swiftly quashed by lead judge Alexandre de Moraes. Once the final judgment is published—expected as early as next week—a warrant for Bolsonaro’s arrest will likely be issued the same day. The sentence, already reduced for age, was based on Bolsonaro’s role in instigating a violent […]