Brazil’s former president, conservative Jair Bolsonaro, a target of the new leftist administration, has <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/brazil-police-indict-ex-president-212117509.html">reportedly</a> been indicted on Thursday by the Federal Police over last year&#8217;s accusations that he imported jewelry worth $3 million and sold two luxury watches without paying taxes.
The police report is expected to be transmitted to the country’s Supreme Court, which would prompt Brazil’s prosecutor-general, Paulo Gonet, to decide whether to put Bolsonaro on trial.
“The persecution of Bolsonaro is declared and shameless!” said Flávio Bolsonaro, Bolsonaro’s son and a sitting senator, on social media. “Someone receives a gift, a committee of public servants decides that it is yours. The TCU questions and the gift is returned to the Union. There is no damage to the treasury! Then the group of PFs, handpicked for the mission, indicts the person.”
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A perseguição a Bolsonaro é declarada e descarada! Alguém ganha um presente, uma comissão de servidores públicos decide que ele é seu. O TCU questiona e o presente é devolvido à União. Não há dano ao erário! Aí o grupo de PFs, escalados a dedo pra missão, indicia a pessoa.
&mdash; Flavio Bolsonaro (@FlavioBolsonaro) <a href="https://twitter.com/FlavioBolsonaro/status/1808967930509496567?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2024</a></blockquote>
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“Police said in August that Bolsonaro received cash from the nearly $70,000 sale of two luxury watches he received as gifts from Saudi Arabia,” the Associated Press reported. “Brazil requires its citizens arriving by plane from abroad to declare goods worth more than $1,000 and, for any amount above that exemption, pay a tax equal to 50% of their value.”
Police also reportedly indicted Bolsonaro’s former aide, Mauro Cid, and two of his lawyers, Frederick Wassef and Fábio Wajngarten.  Wassef blasted that the indictment had been made public, contending that the investigation was supposed to proceed under seal. “I am going through all of this solely for practicing law in defense of Jair Bolsonaro,” he asserted.
Wajngarten issued a lengthy statement on X, writing in part:
<blockquote>
In the entire investigation there is no evidence against me. To be specific: I was indicted for the bizarre reason that I had complied with the Law! &#8230; My legal advice was that the gifts received by the former President of the Republic should be immediately returned to the Court of Auditors of the Union, in defense of any doubts regarding questions regarding the public interest. And legal advice is not a crime. &#8230; Trying to incriminate me is absurd and reveals the fragility of the accusations systematically made by the Federal Police over the last 18 months. The PF knows that I did nothing about what it found, but it still wants to punish me because I am a permanent and uncompromising defense of former president Bolsonaro. If the intention is to intimidate me, they won&#8217;t succeed. Seeing the triumph of the Police State by those who said they were victims of it, used against political opponents, is certainly a dark chapter in our Democracy and will be duly corrected, in due time, by our institutions.
</blockquote>
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O meu indiciamento pela Polícia Federal se baseia na seguinte afronta legal: advogado, fui indiciado porque no exercício de minhas prerrogativas, defendi um cliente, sendo que em toda a investigação não há qualquer prova contra mim. Sendo específico: fui indiciado pela razão…
&mdash; Fabio Wajngarten (@fabiowoficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/fabiowoficial/status/1808975213004272075?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 4, 2024</a></blockquote>
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In February, hundreds of thousands of Brazilians rallied to support Bolsonaro, who flew an Israeli flag in defiance of anti-Semitic remarks made by Brazil’s president, socialist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who had said, “What’s happening in the Gaza Strip isn’t a war, it’s a genocide. It’s not a war of soldiers against soldiers. It’s a war between a highly prepared army and women and children. What’s happening in the Gaza Strip with the Palestinian people hasn’t happened at any other moment in history. Actually, it has happened: when Hitler decided to kill the Jews.”
Da Silva was <a href="//645B7F52-BE63-4299-B35C-54264D22B33D/v" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sentenced</a> to 12 years in jail for corruption in 2017. In 2019, Brazil’s Supreme Court annulled Da Silva’s conviction, ruling that the judge who issued it had no jurisdiction over the former president’s case because he was located in a different state from where Da Silva lived.
Bolsonaro and Argentinian President Javier Milei, who also is a staunch supporter of Israel, are due to meet this weekend in Brazil.
Ryan Saavedra contributed to this article.
RELATED: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hundreds-of-thousands-of-brazilians-flood-sao-paulo-to-support-bolsonaro">Hundreds Of Thousands Of Brazilians Flood Sao Paulo To Support Bolsonaro</a>

BRAZIL-POLITICS-BOLSONARO

Brazil’s Conservative Bolsonaro Reportedly Targeted With Indictment

Brazil

Courts

Indictment

Jair Bolsonaro

World

A prominent Brazilian conservative who was a senior aide to former president Jair Bolsonaro has been imprisoned without trial in the South American country for four months, justified by what appears to have been an error on a U.S. government website.
Lawyers for Filipe Martins, who considers himself a political prisoner of the left-wing Brazilian Supreme Court (STF), say the court is using the error on the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) website as proof to imprison him. Martins was arrested on February 8 at the order of STF Minister Alexandre de Moraes, who is using records showing travel to the United States — and the lack of corresponding Brazilian immigration records — as evidence that Martins defrauded the immigration system by leaving the country undetected.
According to the incorrect CBP travel history records used to keep Martins imprisoned obtained by The Daily Wire, there was a log of Filipe entering the United States with inconsistencies. But representatives of Martins, who served as the special adviser for international affairs to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/7-things-you-need-know-about-trump-brazil-who-kassy-dillon">Bolsonaro</a>, say he never left his country on the day being alleged. There is evidence showing he made Uber and food purchases in Brazil, and also that he took a domestic flight. 
The prolonged imprisonment comes as the STF faces widespread criticism for overstepping its authority to punish opponents. He has not yet been given a trial and remains imprisoned on the grounds that there is a risk he would flee the country, despite the correction. His lawyers say the government is holding him for political reasons.
“It has been widely known that de Moraes has been fearing the growth of conservatives,”  Martins’ attorney, Ana Barbara Schaffert, told The Daily Wire. “This extended, unfounded imprisonment indicates that they are trying to torture him into confessing to anything that fits their narrative, because there is nothing legally that can detain him in jail.”
A correction was made to the CBP I-94 website last week after Martins&#8217; defense team submitted additional documentation to officials to prove Martins did not travel to the United States on December 30, 2022, on a presidential flight with Bolsonaro before the inauguration of the next president, as is alleged. New I-94 records show that Martins&#8217; last entry to the U.S. was in September 2022, when he accompanied Bolsonaro to the U.N. General Assembly in New York.
<div id="attachment_751681" style="width: 690px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-751681" class="size-full wp-image-751681" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/06/Screenshot-2024-06-17-at-9.34.15%E2%80%AFAM.png" alt="" width="680" height="450" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/06/Screenshot-2024-06-17-at-9.34.15%E2%80%AFAM.png 680w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/06/Screenshot-2024-06-17-at-9.34.15%E2%80%AFAM-300x199.png 300w" sizes="(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px" />An incorrect travel history was used by the Brazilian Supreme Court to show that Filipe Martins traveled to the U.S. on December 30, 2022. Martins&#8217; lawyers and an updated document from CBP dispute he ever left the country on that date.</div>
In a determination letter to Martins&#8217; lawyers, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security stated it conducted a review of the situation and “made any corrections to records that our inquiries determined were necessary.”
The lawyers say the update should lead to Filipe&#8217;s release.
“We finally have an official document that can be used as a legal basis that Martins never entered the United States on December 30, 2022,” Schaffert said. “We hope de Moraes takes this into account and releases Filipe immediately.”
<div id="attachment_751679" style="width: 894px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-751679" class="size-large wp-image-751679" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/06/Screenshot-2024-06-17-at-9.34.55%E2%80%AFAM-884x576.png" alt="" width="884" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/06/Screenshot-2024-06-17-at-9.34.55%E2%80%AFAM-884x576.png 884w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/06/Screenshot-2024-06-17-at-9.34.55%E2%80%AFAM-300x196.png 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/06/Screenshot-2024-06-17-at-9.34.55%E2%80%AFAM-768x501.png 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/06/Screenshot-2024-06-17-at-9.34.55%E2%80%AFAM.png 1221w" sizes="(max-width: 884px) 100vw, 884px" />An updated document from the CBP shows Filipe Martins&#8217; last entry to the U.S. was in September 2022, despite accusations from the STF.</div>
Martins’ legal defense filed a petition for his release and is awaiting an official response.
De Moraes also used as evidence an outdated Microsoft Word file with a list of passengers for the December 30 presidential flight that had been updated numerous times, as well as a blog post speculating he “evaporated” from Brazil, according to Schaffert. 
“It was merely a draft of a supposed list, which would never be used as evidence for an arrest in any normal process,” Schaffert said.
Martins was a popular powerhouse in the Bolsonaro administration due to his youth, large social media following, and conservative and pro-American ideology. He was nicknamed the “Jared Kushner” of the Bolsonaro administration while in his previous diplomatic position, which led to a <a href="https://x.com/filgmartin/status/1167851207563628545">meeting wit</a><a href="https://x.com/filgmartin/status/1167851207563628545">h</a> former President Donald Trump in the Oval Office.
Martins is also being investigated by the STF for allegedly contributing to a document questioning the 2022 Brazilian presidential election that led to the return of socialist Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to power after serving a jail term for corruption.
This investigation was not cited as the official reason for Martins’ jailing, according to his lawyers.
Bolsonaro, who was president from January 2019 to December 2022, has been under investigation by the STF for making accusations of voting fraud, and his involvement in orchestrating riots on government buildings in January 2022. He is <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/brazil-bans-bolsonaro-from-holding-office-over-election-claims-energizing-his-base">currently barred</a> from holding or running for office in Brazil until 2030 for casting doubt on its electronic voting system in a meeting with diplomats at the presidential palace, the New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/30/world/americas/bolsonaro-brazil-banned-office.html">reported</a>. 
By using the power of his position, de Moraes has been on <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/musk-vows-to-expose-corruption-from-brazils-dictator-who-launched-probes-for-not-restricting-free-speech">a mission</a> to crack down on conservatives and free speech in the country. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/22/world/americas/brazil-alexandre-de-moraes.html">The New York Times accused</a> de Moraes of using “a broad interpretation of the court’s powers” to “investigate and prosecute, as well as to silence on social media, anyone he deems a menace to Brazil’s institutions.” De Moraes also signaled to deputies that he fears conservatives will make gains in the Brazilian Congress in 2026, <a href="https://www.cnnbrasil.com.br/politica/moraes-sinaliza-preocupacao-com-bancada-conservadora-em-2026/">reported CNN Brazil.</a>
<div id="attachment_751053" style="width: 889px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-751053" class="size-large wp-image-751053" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/06/PHOTO-2024-06-14-15-48-07-879x576.jpg" alt="" width="879" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/06/PHOTO-2024-06-14-15-48-07-879x576.jpg 879w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/06/PHOTO-2024-06-14-15-48-07-300x197.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/06/PHOTO-2024-06-14-15-48-07-768x503.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2024/06/PHOTO-2024-06-14-15-48-07.jpg 1290w" sizes="(max-width: 879px) 100vw, 879px" />Filipe Martins and his wife Anelise Hauagge. (Photo: Instagram)</div>
De Moraes’ crusade led to a feud with billionaire Elon Musk after demanding the censorship and suspension of users on X accused of “fake news.”
“He demanded that X suspend accounts of people who raised corruption concerns while insisting that X pretend the suspension was for violating our terms of service!” <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1777517291736813695">Musk tweeted</a> in April. “We obey the laws of countries even if we disagree with them, but this required violating the laws of Brazil.”
De Moraes opened a probe into Musk for “disobedience” and waging a “disinformation campaign” against the court.
“The flagrant conduct of obstruction of Brazilian justice, incitement of crime, the public threat of disobedience of court orders and future lack of cooperation from the platform are facts that disrespect the sovereignty of Brazil,” de Moraes <a href="https://apnews.com/article/brazil-musk-x-supreme-court-investigation-a645757b95a66ee658832802908466ab">said</a>.
Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/house-probes-fbis-reported-role-in-brazils-crackdown-on-critics">demanded answers</a> last month after reports emerged suggesting the FBI assisted in cracking down on critics and journalists.
“In Brazil, news outlets have recently reported that the FBI, on behalf of the Brazilian government, reached out to two U.S. residents, including a journalist targeted in some of the censorship orders by Brazilian courts,” said Jordan’s letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray.
The STF did not respond to a request for comment.

Brazil’s Left-Wing Supreme Court Imprisons Prominent Conservative Based On U.S. Border Patrol Error

U.S. Border Patrol Error Leaves Former Bolsonaro’s = Adviser Imprisoned Without Trial By Left-Wing Brazil Court

Border Patrol

Elon Musk

Immigration

Hundreds of thousands of Brazilians rallied on Sunday in the country&#8217;s biggest city to show support for former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who flew an Israeli flag in a rebuttal of anti-Semitic remarks made by the country&#8217;s current president, <a href="https://www.cato.org/blog/why-did-global-media-give-brazils-lula-free-pass-corruption">corrupt</a> socialist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
The rally comes as Brazil&#8217;s federal government investigates Bolsonaro over whether he was involved in orchestrating riots on government buildings last January, the Associated Press reported, adding that he&#8217;s also under investigation for allegedly receiving illegal gifts from Saudi Arabia during his presidency.
Bolsonaro, who is barred from running for office until 2030, wants those who have been locked up from the riot to be pardoned and released from jail.
“What I seek is pacification, it is erasing the past,” he said. “It is to seek a way for us to live in peace and stop being so jumpy. Amnesty for those poor people who are jailed in Brasilia. We ask all 513 congressmen, 81 senators for a bill of amnesty so justice can be made in Brazil.”
He also shot down allegations that there was ever a coup attempted in the country: “What is a coup? It is tanks on the streets, weapons, conspiracy. None of that happened in Brazil.”
Roughly 750,000 people attended the rally, according to estimates from the Public Security Secretariat.
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
➡ Ato bolsonarista reuniu 750 mil na Avenida Paulista, diz SSP
Estimativa da Secretaria da Segurança Pública contabiliza ruas adjacentes; reportagem observou 10 quarteirões com público na Paulista
Leia: <a href="https://t.co/pzkWKnRNrD">https://t.co/pzkWKnRNrD</a> <a href="https://t.co/XOt4Uzfse5">pic.twitter.com/XOt4Uzfse5</a>
&mdash; Metrópoles (@Metropoles) <a href="https://twitter.com/Metropoles/status/1761892023940895072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Bolsonaro also waved an Israeli flag at the rally in a clear rebuttal of Lula, who was condemned last week for engaging in anti-Semitic Holocaust denial.
Lula’s remarks come as Israel continues to conduct military operations inside Gaza to recover hostages who were kidnapped during the unprecedented October 7 terrorist attack and to eliminate Hamas terrorists and infrastructure. During the early morning surprise attack, Hamas murdered 1,200 people in Israel, injured 5,300+, and kidnapped hundreds.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
🚨A DEMOCRACIA TEM LADO: Ex-presidente Bolsonaro exibe bandeira de Israel em gesto de solidariedade na Av. Paulista
Solidariedade à nação israelense. <a href="https://t.co/JbrWppAntQ">pic.twitter.com/JbrWppAntQ</a>
&mdash; Meio Independente (@meioindep) <a href="https://twitter.com/meioindep/status/1761814798235308291?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“What’s happening in the Gaza Strip isn’t a war, it’s a genocide,” Lula told reporters at an African Union summit in Ethiopia. “It’s not a war of soldiers against soldiers. It’s a war between a highly prepared army and women and children.”
“What’s happening in the Gaza Strip with the Palestinian people hasn’t happened at any other moment in history,” he said. “Actually, it has happened: when Hitler decided to kill the Jews.”
Israel has taken unprecedented measures to minimize the loss of civilian life during the war, including dropping hundreds of thousands of leaflets urging Gazans to leave specific areas, calling Gazans and urging them to evacuate, opening up safe corridors so they can travel without being fired upon by Hamas, and calling off airstrikes after civilians were located near a designated target.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to Lula’s remarks with a statement posted to social media, saying that Israel would take diplomatic action over the incident.
“The words of the president of Brazil are shameful and serious. This is about trivializing the Holocaust and trying to harm the Jewish people and Israel’s right to defend itself,” Netanyahu said. “Comparing Israel to the Nazi Holocaust and Hitler is crossing a red line. Israel fights for its defense and securing its future until complete victory and it does so while upholding international law.”
“I decided with Foreign Minister Israel Katz to summon the Brazilian ambassador to Israel for a stern reprimand conversation immediately,” he added.

BRAZIL-POLITICS-BOLSONARO-SUPPORTERS-DEMONSTRATION

Hundreds Of Thousands Of Brazilians Flood Sao Paulo To Support Bolsonaro

Socialists

Former <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/brazil" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brazilian</a> President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/musk-fired-most-of-twitter-brazil-sparking-claims-he-did-because-platform-undermined-bolsonaro" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jair Bolsonaro</a> has been banned from holding or even running for office in Brazil until 2030, a panel of judges ruled in a 5-2 decision on Friday. The judges on the electoral court said the populist used government communication channels to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/election-fraud" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cast doubt</a> on Brazil&#8217;s electronic voting system.
Bolsonaro, 68, was president of Brazil from January 2019 to December 2022. He lost an election runoff to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in October, 2022, and he subsequently questioned the fairness of the election.
The former president posted on Friday a video of himself and his supporters to Twitter, with the caption, &#8220;Brazil above all! God above all!&#8221;
Bolsonaro&#8217;s base has reportedly been reenergized by the judges&#8217; decision, which supporters say is unfair, and have compared the politician to former President Donald Trump, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/brazil-jair-bolsonaro-barred-running-office-electronic-voting-court-rcna92160" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/brazil-jair-bolsonaro-barred-running-office-electronic-voting-court-rcna92160&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1688313146686000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2Is6qz-5FD_-ji-G30jhwP">according</a> to NBC News. Supporters this past week have rallied to pay off some $230,000 in COVID-related fines for Bolsonaro.
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-Brasil Acima de Tudo! &#8211; Deus Acima de Todos! <a href="https://t.co/yh6wWAVsbS">pic.twitter.com/yh6wWAVsbS</a>
&mdash; Jair M. Bolsonaro (@jairbolsonaro) <a href="https://twitter.com/jairbolsonaro/status/1674874564197732353?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 30, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The judges&#8217; decision takes Bolsonaro out of the 2024 and 2028 municipal elections and the 2026 general elections; he will be 75 years old when he is again allowed to run for office.
“This response will confirm our faith in the democracy,” <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/30/world/americas/bolsonaro-brazil-banned-office.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> the Supreme Court justice who leads the electoral court in Brazil, Alexandre de Moraes.
<a href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-9096" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://onelink.to/dwapp&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1688314885073000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3ZkQd-P1x6CzShF79BXZqy">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP</a>
Bolsonaro&#8217;s coalition said an audit of the October 2022 runoff found &#8220;signs of irreparable &#8230; malfunction&#8221; in some of the electronic voting machines, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazils-bolsonaro-files-complaint-challenge-election-results-2022-11-22/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazils-bolsonaro-files-complaint-challenge-election-results-2022-11-22/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1688313222165000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0QmLfDz-Gh0F0YSviXWYxB">according</a> to Reuters. A complaint said there were signs of &#8220;serious failures that generate uncertainties&#8221; in the older electronic voting machines, making it &#8220;impossible to validate the results generated,&#8221; and therefore should be &#8220;invalidated.&#8221;
The electoral court found that Bolsonaro had violated election laws when he called diplomats to the presidential palace and claimed the voting systems were rigged in Brazil, The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/30/world/americas/bolsonaro-brazil-banned-office.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
Bolsonaro is expected to appeal the ruling to Brazil’s Supreme Court — a court the former president has criticized for years, including calling some justices “terrorists.&#8221;
The populist is facing criminal threats and could potentially face time behind bars. Brazil’s Federal Police recently <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/brazilian-police-search-home-of-ex-president-bolsonaro-in-vaccine-probe-42bc4e1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">searched</a> Bolsonaro&#8217;s home and seized his phone as part of an investigation into alleged counterfeit COVID-19 vaccine cards. According to a police statement, the investigation focused on whether cards held by Bolsonaro and his family members were altered in order to comply with U.S. vaccine mandates for travelers coming from outside the country.
Tim Meads contributed to this report 
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/musk-fired-most-of-twitter-brazil-sparking-claims-he-did-because-platform-undermined-bolsonaro" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Musk Fired Most Of Twitter Brazil, Sparking Claims He Did Because Platform Undermined Bolsonaro</a>

TOPSHOT-BRAZIL-ELECTION-BOLSONARO

Brazil Bans Bolsonaro From Holding Office Over Election Claims, Energizing His Base

Brazil Bans Jair Bolsonaro From Holding Office Over Election Claims, Energizing His Base 

Elections

This article is adapted from today’s Morning Wire Afternoon Update. To listen to the podcast version, click <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/podcasts/morning-wire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
Atlanta Shooting:
One person is dead and four are injured after a shooter opened fire in an Atlanta medical facility shortly after noon today. According to police, the shooter entered Northside Hospital Medical Midtown wearing a gray hoodie and gloves and carrying a bag. It is believed that the suspect is a male and used a handgun. Police are conducting a manhunt for the suspect who is still at large. No motives have been suggested thus far. 
Russia Accuses Ukraine Of Assassination Attempt:
Russia <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/russia-accuses-ukraine-of-sending-drones-to-assassinate-putin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">accused</a> Ukraine of attempting to assassinate Russian President Vladimir Putin. Video on social media appears to show a drone exploding above the Kremlin on Wednesday. 
The Kremlin said in a statement that two drones were intercepted and shot down by Russian security forces and that the impacts didn’t hurt any people or property. Putin was apparently away from the Kremlin at the time. A spokesman for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denied Russia’s allegations.
 However, right after news of the drone attack broke, Zelensky’s chief of staff posted a string of fire emojis to his Telegram channel. He deleted the post shortly after. The attack, if it was Ukraine, would be a significant escalation in Ukraine’s attacks on Russian territory. The drone strike follows a string of attacks on Russian freight lines, military depots, and other targets, most of which have gone unaddressed by Ukraine’s government.
New York Bans Gas Stoves In Most New Buildings
New York has <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2023/05/03/ny-first-state-to-pass-gas-ban/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">officially become the first state</a> in the nation to ban natural gas and other fossil fuel hookups in most new buildings. 
On Tuesday evening, the New York Senate and Assembly voted to approve the $229 billion dollar state budget which contained the provision. There are exceptions, such as some commercial and industrial buildings including hospitals, laundromats, restaurants, and more. Governor Hochul called the move necessary, comparing the transition to the move away from coal as a primary energy source. Meanwhile, Republican State Senator Thomas O&#8217;Mara criticized the move, saying the electrical grid isn’t equipped for the transition.
Olympian Dead:
American <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/u-s-olympic-champion-sprinter-tori-bowie-dies-at-32" target="_blank" rel="noopener">track and field star Tori Bowie</a>, a three-time Olympic medalist and a two-time world champion in track and field, has died. She was 32 years old.  No cause of death has been given.
Texas Authorities Arrested Accused Illegal Alien Killer&#8217;s Wife:
Authorities have now arrested the wife of the illegal immigrant accused of killing five people, including a 9-year-old, last week in Cleveland, Texas. Police say the shooting suspect is a Mexican national illegally in the country after having been deported several times. Tim Kean, chief deputy with the San Jacinto County Sheriff&#8217;s Office <a href="https://abc7ny.com/francisco-oropesa-arrested-cleveland-texas-mass-shooting-divimara-lamar-nava-shooter/13207789/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> reporters, &#8220;Anybody that helped this maniac definitely has some kind of issues as far as I&#8217;m concerned.&#8221;
Brazilian Police Seach Home Of Former President:
Brazil’s Federal Police <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/brazilian-police-search-home-of-ex-president-bolsonaro-in-vaccine-probe-42bc4e1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">searched</a> the home of former President Jair Bolsonaro and seized his phone as part of an investigation into alleged counterfeit COVID-19 vaccine cards. According to a police statement, the investigation focused on whether cards held by Bolsonaro and his family members were altered in order to comply with U.S. vaccine mandates for travelers coming from outside the country. 
Fed Hikes Rates:
The federal reserve <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/federal-reserve-unveils-quarter-point-target-interest-rate-hike-as-banking-system-reels" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> Wednesday that it raised interest rates for the 10th time in a little more than 12 months. The quarter-point hike brings the Fed’s interest rate to between 5 and 5.25 percent. 
To listen to the audio version of this podcast, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/morning-wire/id1576594336" target="_blank" rel="noopener">click here</a>. And for more in-depth discussion of the biggest stories of the day, listen to the latest full episode of Morning Wire every morning.

Wednesday

Wednesday Afternoon Update: Atlanta Shooting, Russia Accuses Ukraine Of Assassination Attempt, Olympian Dead At 32

Atlanta

Federal Reserve

Gas stoves

Illegal Immigration

Kathy Hochul

New York

Olympics

Russia

Texas

After Twitter CEO Elon Musk gutted much of Twitter&#8217;s staff in Brazil following the October elections, including all employees charged with moderating content for incitement of violence and misinformation, critics are <a href="https://twitter.com/ben_kew/status/1612760166658707459" target="_blank" rel="noopener">claiming</a> the bloodbath was over Twitter&#8217;s alleged role in undermining the conservative presidency of Jair Bolsonaro.
Musk completed his acquisition of Twitter on October 27; the run-off election for Brazil was held on October 30. In the initial election on October 2, neither Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro nor leftist Luiz Inacio da Silva, who served as president of Brazil from 2003-2010, could gain more than half of the valid votes, precipitating a run-off election, which ended with Lula receiving 50.90% of the votes to Bolsonaro&#8217;s 49.10%, the closest presidential election in Brazil’s history.
In early November, Twitter Brazil <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/07/twitter-brazil-elon-musk-far-right-suspended-accounts-edited-">suspended the profiles</a> of three right-wing politicians, prompting one Twitter user to ask Musk, “Hey @elonmusk, your company has been imposing a draconian ideological censorship of the Brazilian people’s right to free speech. We are at a critical moment in our history! Wtf is going on?? We thought you bought Twitter exactly for this reason! Rise and lift the censorship NOW!”
When Musk responded, “What censorship are you referring to?” Paulo Figueiredo Filho, the grandson of João Figueiredo, Brazil’s military president between 1979 and 1985, chimed in, “Of course, Twitter needs to obey Brazilian ‘court’ decisions. But the company has gone above and beyond, spontaneously imposing its own censorship, even stricter than that of our flawed courts. Your moderators are currently being more dictatorial than our own courts!&#8221;
“I will look into this,” Musk responded.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I will look into this
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1589419469020942336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 7, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
In early December, Avi Yemini of Rebel News tweeted at Musk, “Hey @elonmusk, can you find out what other elections were ‘handled’ by the former Twitter regime?  Thank you, The rest of the world.”
Musk replied, “I’ve seen a lot of concerning tweets about the recent Brazil election. If those tweets are accurate, it’s possible that Twitter personnel gave preference to left wing candidates.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
I’ve seen a lot of concerning tweets about the recent Brazil election. If those tweets are accurate, it’s possible that Twitter personnel gave preference to left wing candidates.
&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1598990820665065472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 3, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Musk followed with a mid-December tweet in which he stated, “Twitter may have people on the Brazil team that are strongly politically biased.” In May 2022, Musk visited Bolsonaro in Brazil, where they discussed projects that could protect the Amazon rainforest. At roughly the same time, Bolosonaro <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/elon-musk-visit-brazil-talks-with-bolsonaro-government-official-says-2022-05-20/">called</a> the possible acquisition of Twitter by Musk “a breath of hope,” adding that he hoped Musk would show the rest of the world how Brazil protected the rainforest.

COMBO-BRAZIL-TELECOM-ENVIRONMENT-INTERNET-MUSK

Musk Fired Most Of Twitter Brazil, Sparking Claims He Did Because Platform Undermined Bolsonaro

Censorship

Twitter

Former <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/brazil" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brazilian</a> President <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/jair-bolsonaro" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jair Bolsonaro</a> was hospitalized in <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/florida" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Florida</a> one day after supporters of his failed re-election campaign rioted and stormed multiple federal buildings in his home country.
The conservative populist was admitted to AdventHealth Celebration, a hospital outside Orlando, with concerns over severe abdominal pain, according to a <a href="https://oglobo.globo.com/blogs/lauro-jardim/post/2023/01/bolsonaro-internado-num-hospital-nos-eua.ghtml?utm_source=globo.com&amp;utm_medium=oglobo" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> from Brazilian news outlet Globo. The former chief executive has reportedly been hospitalized a handful of times from abdominal pain since he was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/details-emerge-about-man-who-stabbed-brazils-james-barrett" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stabbed</a> by a socialist activist in 2018 during a rally, resulting in severe blood loss and damage to multiple organs at the time.
The hospitalization occurs as Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who assumed office last week, and other officials in the South American nation <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/brazilian-government-plans-to-punish-pro-bolsonaro-protesters-who-stormed-federal-buildings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">crack down</a> on Bolsonaro supporters who destroyed federal property in the Sunday demonstrations. Lula, a self-described socialist, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ex-con-defeats-incumbent-in-brazilian-presidential-election" target="_blank" rel="noopener">defeated</a> Bolsonaro, a populist conservative sometimes called the “Trump of the Tropics,” by a narrow margin during elections held in October, which occurred two years after a justice on the Brazilian Supreme Court cleared him of previous corruption convictions.
“The coup plotters who promoted the destruction of public property in Brasilia are being identified and will be punished,” Lula <a href="https://twitter.com/LulaOficial/status/1612280715231612928" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on social media. “Tomorrow we resume work at the Planalto Palace. Democracy always.”
Bolsonaro has been residing in Florida for the past few weeks; videos of him signing soccer jerseys and visiting fast food restaurants have circulated online, according to a <a href="https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/florida/os-ne-jair-bolsanaro-rally-orlando-20230103-q4ignwy6ijg47pu462syrunyuq-story.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> from the Orlando Sentinel. Bolsonaro is reportedly facing various probes in his home country related to the release of classified documents, denying election results, and potential connections to misinformation campaigns.
Biden administration officials have not yet received any requests from the Brazilian government regarding Bolsonaro.
“We have not, as of now, received any official requests from the Brazilian government related to Bolsonaro,” National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/3805405-white-house-says-it-hasnt-received-any-requests-from-brazil-about-bolsonaro/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> reporters on Monday. “Of course, if we did receive such requests, we’d treat them the way we always do, we’d treat them seriously.”
Bolsonaro, who is reportedly staying in the home of retired Brazilian mixed martial artist Jose Aldo, condemned the rioters. “Peaceful demonstrations, in the form of the law, are part of democracy,” he <a href="https://twitter.com/jairbolsonaro/status/1612242019564548097?s=20&amp;t=L8P6-CWW_kUnM0YptjMQ0w" target="_blank" rel="noopener">remarked</a>. “However, depredations and invasions of public buildings as occurred today, as well as those practiced by the left in 2013 and 2017, escape the rule.”
Lula is regarded as a socialist figurehead across Latin America; residents of Brazil are concerned that his policies will fail to discourage violent crime and drug trafficking. Bolsonaro supporters have camped in front of military facilities in recent months as they plead for authorities to seize control of the government.
Military assets were nevertheless used on Sunday to contain the unrest, in which several buildings were vandalized. “I come to inform you that more than 400 people have already been arrested and will pay for the crimes committed,” Brazilian Federal District Governor Ibaneis Rocha <a href="https://twitter.com/IbaneisOficial/status/1612231280179183617" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. “We continue working to identify all the others who participated in these terrorist acts this afternoon in the Federal District. We continue to work to restore order.”
Social media platforms are currently working to remove posts expressing support for the demonstrations, according to a <a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/facebook-owner-meta-removing-content-backing-brazil-assault-2023-01-09/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> from Reuters. A spokesman for Meta, which runs Facebook, designated the protest as a “violating event,” meaning that the company “will remove content that supports or praises these actions,” while a spokesperson for YouTube, a subsidiary of Google, told the outlet that the company is “closely tracking” the protests and “removing content” that violates community guidelines.

Jair Bolsonaro Hospitalized In Florida As New Brazilian Government Takes Power

Jair Bolsonaro Hospitalized In Florida

Florida

Global Politics

<a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/big-tech" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Social media</a> platforms revealed on Monday that they would remove <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/social-media-censorship" target="_blank" rel="noopener">content</a> supporting riots in <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/brazil" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brazil</a> that saw demonstrators storm multiple federal buildings.
Thousands of supporters who backed former President <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/jair-bolsonaro" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jair Bolsonaro</a> in recent elections <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-thousands-of-bolsonaro-supporters-storm-brazils-congress-supreme-court-presidential-office" target="_blank" rel="noopener">entered</a> facilities hosting the South American nation’s legislative and executive branches. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who assumed office last week, has vowed to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/brazilian-government-plans-to-punish-pro-bolsonaro-protesters-who-stormed-federal-buildings" target="_blank" rel="noopener">punish</a> individuals who destroyed federal property. Technology companies are now taking down material that supports the riots, according to a <a href="https://www.reuters.com/technology/facebook-owner-meta-removing-content-backing-brazil-assault-2023-01-09/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> from Reuters.
&#8220;In advance of the election, we designated Brazil as a temporary high-risk location and have been removing content calling for people to take up arms or forcibly invade Congress, the Presidential palace and other federal buildings,&#8221; a spokesman for Meta, which runs Facebook, told the outlet. &#8220;We are also designating this as a violating event, which means we will remove content that supports or praises these actions. We are actively following the situation and will continue removing content that violates our policies.&#8221;
YouTube, a subsidiary of Google, likewise told the outlet that the company is “closely tracking” the unrest and “removing content” that violates community guidelines. &#8220;Our systems are prominently surfacing authoritative content on our homepage, at the top of search results, and in recommendations,” a spokesperson said. “We will remain vigilant as the situation continues to unfold.&#8221;
Twitter did not respond to Reuters&#8217; request for comment.
Lula, a self-described socialist, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ex-con-defeats-incumbent-in-brazilian-presidential-election" target="_blank" rel="noopener">defeated</a> Bolsonaro, a populist conservative sometimes called the “Trump of the Tropics,” by a narrow margin during elections held in October. A justice on the Brazilian Supreme Court voided corruption convictions against Lula two years ago, restoring his eligibility for office. Documents leaked after Lula’s trial suggested that the judge in the case, Sergio Moro, improperly collaborated with the prosecution.
Bolsonaro, currently residing in Florida while reportedly facing investigations in his home country, has condemned illegal protests. “Peaceful demonstrations, in the form of the law, are part of democracy,” he <a href="https://twitter.com/jairbolsonaro/status/1612242019564548097?s=20&amp;t=L8P6-CWW_kUnM0YptjMQ0w" target="_blank" rel="noopener">remarked</a>. “However, depredations and invasions of public buildings as occurred today, as well as those practiced by the left in 2013 and 2017, escape the rule.”
Telegram, a private messaging service, is working with the new government to identify and censor content. &#8220;Telegram is a platform that supports the right to free speech and peaceful protest. Calls to violence, however, are explicitly forbidden on our platform,&#8221; a spokesperson remarked. &#8220;Our moderators use a combination of proactive monitoring in public-facing parts of our platform in addition to accepting user reports, in order to remove such content.&#8221;
The protests came almost two years after supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the United States Capitol Building on January 6, 2021, drawing a comparison between the two events from American commentators. The former commander-in-chief was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/social-media-platforms-have-no-plans-to-lift-bans-on-trumps-accounts-despite-third-white-house-bid" target="_blank" rel="noopener">suspended</a> from major social media platforms following the incident; his account was recently <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-elon-musk-to-reinstate-trump-on-twitter-trump-has-repeatedly-stated-he-wont-come-back" target="_blank" rel="noopener">restored</a> on Twitter after the company was purchased by Elon Musk.
Cooperation between at least one social media platform and the Lula administration occurs after the Twitter Files revealed extensive collaboration between the company and various American federal law enforcement agencies. One set of emails <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/new-twitter-files-show-fbi-paid-twitter-millions-influenced-execs-to-censor-hunter-biden-laptop-story" target="_blank" rel="noopener">provided</a> by Musk to independent journalists showed that there was “an organized effort by representatives of the intelligence community” aimed at “senior executives at news and social media companies” to discredit “leaked information about Hunter Biden before and after it was published.”

Supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro storm Congress building

Big Tech Platforms Remove Content Supporting Pro-Bolsonaro Rioters Who Stormed Brazilian Federal Buildings

Tech Firms Remove Content Backing Brazil Riot

Big Tech

Facebook

Social Media

Social Media Censorship

YouTube

<a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/brazil" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brazil</a> plans to punish supporters of former President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/jair-bolsonaro" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jair Bolsonaro</a> who stormed the nation’s federal buildings on Sunday.
Thousands of supporters of the right-wing chief executive, who was succeeded by left-wing President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva last week following contentious national elections, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-thousands-of-bolsonaro-supporters-storm-brazils-congress-supreme-court-presidential-office">entered</a> facilities hosting the South American nation’s legislative and executive branches. Officials have vowed to prosecute the rioters and have taken some into custody.
“The coup plotters who promoted the destruction of public property in Brasilia are being identified and will be punished,” Lula <a href="https://twitter.com/LulaOficial/status/1612280715231612928" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vowed</a> Sunday on social media. “Tomorrow we resume work at the Planalto Palace. Democracy always. Goodnight.”
Lula, a self-described socialist, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ex-con-defeats-incumbent-in-brazilian-presidential-election" target="_blank" rel="noopener">defeated</a> Bolsonaro, a populist conservative called the “Trump of the Tropics,” by a margin of 50.9% to 49.1% during national elections held in October. A justice on the Brazilian Supreme Court voided corruption convictions against Lula two years ago, restoring his eligibility for office. Documents leaked after Lula’s trial suggested that the judge in the case, Sergio Moro, improperly collaborated with the prosecution.
Bolsonaro supporters, concerned that Lula would adopt soft-on-crime policies and otherwise move the nation leftward, have camped in front of military facilities in recent months, pleading for authorities to take control of the government. Lula is also a populist and an icon in Latin America, where his ideology, Lulism, constitutes a popular strand of socialist thought.
Military assets were nevertheless deployed on Sunday to manage the protests.
“I come to inform you that more than 400 people have already been arrested and will pay for the crimes committed,” Brazilian Federal District Governor Ibaneis Rocha <a href="https://twitter.com/IbaneisOficial/status/1612231280179183617" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on social media. “We continue working to identify all the others who participated in these terrorist acts this afternoon in the Federal District. We continue to work to restore order.”
Bolsonaro, currently residing in Florida while reportedly facing investigations in his home country, has claimed that the election results were fraudulent. On Sunday, however, he condemned illegal protests. “Peaceful demonstrations, in the form of the law, are part of democracy,” he <a href="https://twitter.com/jairbolsonaro/status/1612242019564548097?s=20&amp;t=L8P6-CWW_kUnM0YptjMQ0w" target="_blank" rel="noopener">remarked</a>. &#8220;However, depredations and invasions of public buildings as occurred today, as well as those practiced by the left in 2013 and 2017, escape the rule.”
The protests came almost exactly two years after Trump supporters stormed the United States Capitol Building on January 6, 2021, drawing a comparison between the two events from American commentators.
President Joe Biden expressed concern over the protests in Brazil.
“I condemn the assault on democracy and on the peaceful transfer of power in Brazil,” he <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1612227134516256770" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, reiterating his willingness to work with Lula. “Brazil’s democratic institutions have our full support and the will of the Brazilian people must not be undermined.”
American law enforcement agencies drew criticism after January 6 for throwing the book at the rioters, who were predominantly right-of-center, while seemingly ignoring protests related to the death of George Floyd that caused extensive damage to major American cities months earlier. The alleged <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/wheres-the-outrage-from-elected-leaders-over-the-abuse-of-january-6-prisoners" target="_blank" rel="noopener">treatment</a> of the January 6 defendants has also provoked criticism toward the Justice Department.
Michael Whittaker contributed to this report.

Supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro storm governmental buildings

Brazilian Government Plans To Punish Pro-Bolsonaro Protesters Who Stormed Federal Buildings

Brazilian Government Arrests Hundreds Of Pro-Bolsonaro Protesters Who Invaded Federal Buildings

Protest

Protesters

Protests

Rioters

Riots

Thousands of supporters of Brazil&#8217;s former president, Jair Bolsonaro, stormed the nation&#8217;s Congress and presidential offices on Sunday as they protested what they claimed was a stolen election.
The breach comes after Bolsonaro repeatedly attacked the integrity of the country&#8217;s recent presidential elections, in which Bolsonaro lost to leftist Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Lula was inaugurated last week.
The demonstrators overran security barriers, climbed on roofs, and vandalized the buildings, the Associated Press <a href="https://apnews.com/article/jair-bolsonaro-brazil-government-caribbean-0c03c098a5e2a09ac534412c30ae8355">reported</a>.
Bolsonaro, who has been hiding out in Florida in recent weeks, has not yet made any comments condemning the incident.
“This absurd attempt to impose their will by force will not prevail,” said Justice Minister Flavio Dino on his Twitter account. “The government of the Federal District has ensured there will be reinforcements. And the forces at our disposal are at work.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Essa absurda tentativa de impor a vontade pela força não vai prevalecer. O Governo do Distrito Federal afirma que haverá reforços. E as forças de que dispomos estão agindo. Estou na sede do Ministério da Justiça.
&mdash; Flávio Dino 🇧🇷 (@FlavioDino) <a href="https://twitter.com/FlavioDino/status/1612158056653066240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Brazil&#8217;s Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco wrote on Twitter that Brazilian officials are focused on using the full extent of the law to get the situation under control.
Pacheco tweeted, &#8220;I vehemently repudiate these anti-democratic acts, which must urgently undergo the rigor of the law.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Na ação, estão empenhadas as forças de segurança do Distrito Federal, alem da Polícia Legislativa do Congresso.  Repudio veementemente esses atos antidemocráticos, que devem sofrer o rigor da lei com urgência.
&mdash; Rodrigo Pacheco (@rodrigopacheco) <a href="https://twitter.com/rodrigopacheco/status/1612154440072548354?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2023</a></blockquote>
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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken tweeted on Sunday, &#8220;We condemn the attacks on Brazil&#8217;s Presidency, Congress, and Supreme Court today. Using violence to attack democratic institutions is always unacceptable. We join @lulaoficial in urging an immediate end to these actions.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
We condemn the attacks on Brazil&#39;s Presidency, Congress, and Supreme Court today. Using violence to attack democratic institutions is always unacceptable. We join <a href="https://twitter.com/LulaOficial?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@lulaoficial</a> in urging an immediate end to these actions.
&mdash; Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) <a href="https://twitter.com/SecBlinken/status/1612196735538937856?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Bolsonaro, who is now reportedly facing investigations since he has lost immunity from prosecution because he is no longer the country&#8217;s president, has claimed that the results of his election were fraudulent.
Sunday&#8217;s uprising will likely benefit leftists and the new Lula administration because they will use it to justify parts of the agenda that they are pushing, political analysts suggested online.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Radicais brincando com o patrimônio público! Invadiram o plenário do Senado Federal 👇 <a href="https://t.co/0Oq47VDQVI">pic.twitter.com/0Oq47VDQVI</a>
&mdash; Murilo Fagundes (@muriloffagundes) <a href="https://twitter.com/muriloffagundes/status/1612164883684130816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
⚠️ Bolsonaristas invadem o Congresso Nacional em manifestação antidemocrática <a href="https://t.co/fpLp7TThD2">pic.twitter.com/fpLp7TThD2</a>
&mdash; Metrópoles (@Metropoles) <a href="https://twitter.com/Metropoles/status/1612146430864510976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Apoiadores de Jair Bolsonaro colocam fogo no Congresso Nacional. <a href="https://t.co/XhE8r3GiwF">pic.twitter.com/XhE8r3GiwF</a>
&mdash; Metrópoles (@Metropoles) <a href="https://twitter.com/Metropoles/status/1612188229876256769?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
A destruição do <a href="https://twitter.com/STF_oficial?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@STF_oficial</a> visto por dentro. Atos de terroristas a mando do ex-presidente Jair Bolsonaro causam intensa desordem na Capital. <a href="https://t.co/uLv2miPYWB">pic.twitter.com/uLv2miPYWB</a>
&mdash; George Marques 🇧🇷 (@GeorgMarques) <a href="https://twitter.com/GeorgMarques/status/1612166079991758848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
URGENTE: Invasores quebram vidraças da chapelaria do Congresso e invadem a Câmara dos Deputados. Extremistas já estão no Salão Verde e nos anexos do prédio. Também houve invasão ao Palácio do Planalto. Presidente Lula não está no local. <a href="https://t.co/lP91pLqTuf">pic.twitter.com/lP91pLqTuf</a>
&mdash; Renato Souza (@reporterenato) <a href="https://twitter.com/reporterenato/status/1612155259824087041?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
ATENTADOS EM BRASÍLIA: Prédio do STF tem o andar térreo e o plenário complemente destruídos. Servidores da segurança foram ameaçados e documentos oficiais podem ter sido extraviados. Vídeo: George Marques. <a href="https://t.co/NAPmiJqvms">pic.twitter.com/NAPmiJqvms</a>
&mdash; Renato Souza (@reporterenato) <a href="https://twitter.com/reporterenato/status/1612169712611491841?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2023</a></blockquote>
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O plenário do <a href="https://twitter.com/STF_oficial?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@STF_oficial</a> completamente destruído por terroristas a mando do Bolsonaro <a href="https://t.co/NiU076FhWY">pic.twitter.com/NiU076FhWY</a>
&mdash; George Marques 🇧🇷 (@GeorgMarques) <a href="https://twitter.com/GeorgMarques/status/1612160125208334336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Editor&#8217;s note: This article has been expanded to include additional information.

Thousands Of Bolsonaro Supporters Storm Brazil’s Congress, Supreme Court, Presidential Office

Thousands Of Bolsonaro Supporters Storm Brazil's Congress, Supreme Court, Presidential Office

Former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, colloquially known as ‘Lula’, defeated incumbent President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/jair-bolsonaro">Jair Bolsonaro</a> in a tightly contested election on Sunday night, and will be the next President of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/brazil">Brazil</a>.
With 99% of the vote in, the self described socialist defeated the populist conservative Jair Bolsonaro by a margin of <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2022-brazil-election/">50.9% &#8211; 49.1%</a>. The election went to a run-off between the top two finishers after no candidate secured a majority in the first round: Lula led the pack with 48% to Bolsonaro’s 43%, but Bolsonaro outperformed polling which suggested that Lula would walk away with the contest in the first round.
Lula is a founding member of Brazil’s left-wing Worker’s Party. He was a perennial presidential candidate before finally coming to power in the 2002 Brazilian elections, and held office from 2003-2010. Lula is also a populist and something of an icon in Latin America, where his ideology, Lulism, is a popular strand of socialist thought.
Lula’s defeat of Bolsonaro follows a trend of left-wing governments coming to power across Latin America, described by some observers as a second ‘<a href="https://theglobalamericans.org/2022/09/pink-tide-2-0-the-same-trap-awaits/">pink tide</a>’ reminiscent of a similar political shift in the first years of the 21st century. In the final days of the campaign, President Bolsonaro spoke to Daily Wire Host Ben Shapiro about the potential stakes of the election.
“We in Brazil cannot possibly join the Venezuela club, or league of countries, which now includes Chile, Argentina, and Nicaragua. Brazil is the most important country in South America, so if Brazil succumbs to the left-wing, that’s the end of South America,” he <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVytVgGNxU8">said</a>.
Brazil is the 7th most populous nation in the world, home to over 215 million people, and it is also the world’s 12th largest economy &#8211; it is by far the largest nation in Latin America.
While his administration has been described as ‘moderate left,&#8217; Lula also supported Hugo Chavez’s rise to power in Venezuela and was aligned with him and other left-wing leaders in Latin America. Lula also played a role in negotiating the Obama Administration’s Iran Nuclear Deal, and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jan/10/lula-brazil-iran-us-suleimani-peace-war">condemned</a> the killing of Qassem Soleimani during the Trump Administration.
Lula’s government was also plagued by several corruption scandals, although the largest scandal would emerge after he left office. His successor and former chief of staff, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/01/world/americas/brazil-dilma-rousseff-impeached-removed-president.html">Dilma Rouseff</a>, was impeached and removed from office in 2016 in connection with the largest corruption investigation in Brazil’s history, <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-35810578">Operation Car Wash</a>. The scandal involved a massive money laundering and bribery scheme centered around a state owned oil company, Petrobras, and by the time the smoke cleared 3 former presidents had been jailed on corruption charges, including Lula.
Normally, that conviction would have been disqualifying: Brazil has a <a href="https://www.as-coa.org/articles/explainer-brazils-clean-record-law">‘Clean Slate’</a> law that blocks politicians convicted of certain felonies from running for office. Lula was <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-09-01/lula-banned-from-brazil-presidential-race-by-election-court">blocked</a> from running in 2018, and many observers believe that was a major reason why Bolsonaro won that election.
But, in a controversial decision a justice on Brazil’s Supreme Court <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-56326389">voided</a> Lula’s convictions in 2021, restoring his eligibility for office. Documents leaked after Lula’s trial suggested that the judge in the case, Sergio Moro, improperly collaborated with the prosecution. Moro would go on to serve in Bolsonaro&#8217;s cabinet as the Minister of Justice and Public Security.
Lula was also reportedly tried in the wrong jurisdiction &#8211; the trial took place in a court in Curitiba in the state of Paraná, but the alleged crimes were committed in Brasilia, the nation’s capital, and Lula was a resident of Brasilia at the time of prosecution so his trial supposedly should have been conducted there. The decision was highly controversial and did not exonerate Lula of wrongdoing, but any lingering miasma of disrepute was not enough to stop Lula from crossing the finish line.
The incumbent, Bolsonaro, is a populist conservative, sometimes called ‘the Tropical Trump’, who came to power after the aforementioned corruption scandals soured public opinion on the then dominant Worker’s Party, after surviving an <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/watch-brazil-presidential-candidate-stabbed-rally-ashe-schow">assassination attempt</a>.
Bolsonaro is well known for his hardline stances on <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/brazilian-president-bolsonaro-criminals-will-die-hank-berrien">crime</a> and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/brazil-government-champions-return-to-tradition-sexual-abstinence-before-marriage">social issues</a> like same sex marriage and abortion. He’s also taken steps to <a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-08-10/brazils-bolsonaro-pledges-privatizations-if-re-elected-mum-on-petrobras">privatize</a> government owned business, <a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/08/13/1116989125/brazil-firearm-ownership-booms-gun-laws-loosen-bolsonaro">increase civilian access to firearms</a> and open up parts of the <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/what-brazils-election-means-amazon-rainforest-2022-10-26/">Amazon rainforest</a> to economic development. Bolsonaro has also pursued closer <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/brazil-surges-toward-american-conservatism-kassy-dillon">economic and political ties with the United States</a> compared to previous Brazilian governments.
Bolsonaro has also made international headlines for his stance COVID-19 &#8211; from very early on he actively <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/stand-your-ground-hugs-from-brazil-brazilian-right-wing-president-cheers-joe-rogan">opposed lockdowns</a> and even prevented local governments from imposing restrictions. The Brazilian economy fared better than many people predicted and recovered to pre-pandemic levels by early 2021, but critics of Bolsonaro have <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/20/americas/brazil-bolsonaro-covid-19-intl-hnk">accused him</a> of downplaying the danger of the virus and causing hundreds of thousands of unnecessary deaths. 600,000 Brazillians died from COVID, the second highest death toll reported in any nation, although on a <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/1104709/coronavirus-deaths-worldwide-per-million-inhabitants/">per capita basis</a> Brazil’s death rate was comparable to the rate seen in neighboring Chile and the United States, and only as half as high as Peru’s.
Bolsonaro has regularly criticized the integrity of Brazilian elections, and <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/09/30/bolsonaro-trump-brazil-election-democracy/">raised concerns</a> about fraud before the vote. Unlike in the United States, however, the Brazilian President is selected by national popular vote, and it will be difficult to overcome the nearly 2 million ballot advantage Lula amassed even if some local fraud is demonstrated. The Biden administration <a href="https://rollcall.com/2022/10/28/democrats-warn-of-consequences-if-bolsonaro-denies-vote-results/">rebuked</a> Bolsonaro preemptively several days before the election, and prominent Democrats have suggested that the US will “re-evaluate its relationship” with the largest democracy in Latin America if Bolsonaro challenges the results of the vote.
President Biden put out an <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/10/30/statement-by-president-joe-biden-congratulating-luiz-inacio-lula-da-silva-as-president-of-brazil/">official statement</a> congratulating Lula after his victory, stressing that the election was “free, fair and credible.”

Former President Lula Narrowly Wins Brazil’s Presidency In Stunning Comeback

Ex-Con Defeats Incumbent In Brazilian Presidential Election

Socialism

Brazilian President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/brazilian-prez-bolsonaro-drags-dicaprio-again-i-know-progressives-you-want-to-change-the-entire-world-but-never-yourselves/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jair Bolsonaro</a> told Daily Wire host <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/liberals-melting-down-ahead-of-elections-ben-shapiro-has-a-theory/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ben Shapiro</a> his country is at a crossroads in the upcoming election, and faces the danger of falling into the same pattern of socialist corruption that engulfs many South and Central American nations.
The conservative former army captain, who is often likened to former <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/former-trump-economic-adviser-blasts-biden-he-will-not-tell-the-truth-about-the-economy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">U.S. President Donald Trump</a>, battled his way into an Oct. 30 runoff against ex-President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, a socialist who only recently was released from prison where he was serving time for corruption. Neither got the necessary majority of the vote in the Oct. 2 election, even though polls had predicted Lula, who was president from 2003-11, would win.
“He&#8217;s a corrupt politician who has left a huge trail of corruption in Brazil,” Bolsonaro, 67, told Shapiro in a Daily Wire <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ben-shapiro-show/id1047335260?i=1000583581981" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sunday Special</a> that aired Oct. 23. “That&#8217;s his legacy.”
<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ben-shapiro-show/id1047335260?i=1000583581981" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO BEN SHAPIRO&#8217;S INTERVIEW WITH BRAZILIAN PRESIDENT JAIR BOLSONARO</a>
The 76-year-old Lula was convicted in 2017 of corruption and sentenced to 12 years in prison in the sprawling case known as Operation Car Wash, a scandal that brought down dozens of politician and business leaders. He appealed his conviction, and ran against Bolsonaro in 2018, but was ousted from the race when the conviction was upheld. But now, a Supreme Court justice has ruled that the trial judge lacked jurisdiction, and annulled the conviction. That cleared the way for Lula to run again, although he could still be retried and convicted on the original charges.
Bolsonaro told Shapiro his nemesis and the Workers Party he heads looted pension funds, embezzled public funds, and gave out crooked contracts that cost Brazilian taxpayers billions of dollars while in power.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
&#8211; Conversei, na última quinta-feira, com o jornalista e escritor americano <a href="https://twitter.com/benshapiro?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@benshapiro</a> , dono de um dos maiores podcasts dos EUA. Mostramos a verdade sobre o Brasil e sobre o que está em jogo nestas eleições. Assistam, com legenda em português, no YouTube: <a href="https://t.co/hwTlCIqfg8">https://t.co/hwTlCIqfg8</a> <a href="https://t.co/y1rrXwQB4M">pic.twitter.com/y1rrXwQB4M</a>
&mdash; Jair M. Bolsonaro (@jairbolsonaro) <a href="https://twitter.com/jairbolsonaro/status/1584932266194522112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 25, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Bolsonaro echoed the complaints of Trump, saying the media is sympathetic to Lula and helps amplify false accusations against him.
“They accuse me of being a dictator, or being a homophobic man, or being a racist person,” Bolsonaro said. “They say I don&#8217;t like black people.&#8221;
“They&#8217;ve accused me of being a cannibal and a beast and a pedophile and a fascist, and anything goes for them, basically,” he said.
Brazil can be a bulwark against the corrupt socialism that has pervaded South and Central America, he said. But not if Lula emerges victorious.
“We in Brazil cannot possibly join the Venezuela Team of countries, which now includes Argentina, Chile, [and] Nicaragua,” he said. “Brazil is the most important country in South America. So if Brazil succumbs to the Left wing, that&#8217;s the end of South America.”
Bolsonaro questioned the Supreme Court justice’s decision that Lula could only be tried in the state of Brasilia, where his alleged crimes occurred, and acknowledged concerns that a fair election could be held given the high court’s influence over the process.
“What makes us more confident about the ongoing elections is the fact that the armed forces in Brazil have been invited to join in electoral transparency,” he said. “But the armed forces have told me that it is impossible to grant a seal of credibility or reliability to the voting system, given the very many vulnerabilities or weaknesses that the system still features.”
If voters make their choice based on Brazil’s economic progress, Bolsonaro is confident he will win another term.
“We have posted the third month in a row of negative inflation,” he said. “Of course, foodstuffs and other prices are going down. The labor market is doing pretty well. And 8%, a little more than 8% is our current unemployment rate or joblessness rate in Brazil, a good rate as compared to previous administrations.”
Bolsonaro said he has cut red tape to enable entrepreneurs, lowered taxes and fought to keep the economy open during the COVID pandemic, when he said Brazil’s GDP dipped a relatively small 4%.
“At the end of the Lula da Silva administration back in 2010, it would take you as a businessperson, an average of about four months to open a company,” Bolsonaro said. “Under my administration, it takes no more than a day to open a business, a new business.”
Bolsonaro said he will stand with Christians in his majority Catholic nation against abortion and the same radical gender theory now roiling the U.S., which he said leftists seek to promulgate in schools.
“They are also for liberalizing abortion and also the so-called gender ideology,” he said. “Even children now very few, but children age seven, eight, nine. Children think not to know whether they&#8217;re girls or boys and vice versa. Or boys don&#8217;t know whether they&#8217;re boys anymore.
“For a substantial part of the Brazilian schooling system, they are all about ideology. They are trying to train activists and militants in the school setting,” he said, adding that “the legacy left by the Workers Party and the educational system is really catastrophic.”
Shapiro asked the Brazilian leader about dealing with the two U.S. administrations his own term has spanned.
“You know, for us we kept on doing business with Trump,” Bolsonaro said. “We had, of course, closer ties. We worked closely or more closely together.&#8221;
“All of that came to a halt once Biden was elected,” he continued. “We do, of course, look forward and expect that we will be able to resume our dialogue with the incumbent U.S. president. But of course, that means we must be reelected first.”

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Bolsonaro Tells Ben Shapiro Why His Battle To Save Brazil From Socialist Clutches Is America’s Fight, Too

Bolsonaro Tells Ben Shapiro Why His Battle To Save Brazil From Socialist Clutches Is America's Fight, Too

Ben Shapiro

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