2 Brazil Supreme Court judges vote to convict Bolsonaro over coup attempt

Judge Flavio Dino joined Justice Alexandre de Moraes in finding Bolsonaro guilty of leading efforts to prevent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from assuming office after his 2022 election victory.

With Dino’s vote, the court now has two of the five votes required for a conviction. Judges Luiz Fux, Carmen Lucia Antunes, and Cristiano Zanin have yet to cast their ballots. A verdict in the case, which also involves seven others accused of undermining democracy, is expected in the coming days.
Dino, a former justice minister under Lula, was appointed to the court in February 2024.

Charges against Bolsonaro

According to the indictment, Bolsonaro and his allies conspired to prevent Lula’s inauguration after the 2022 election.

Moraes said during Tuesday’s session that the attempted coup has already been proven in court: “Bolsonaro acted as the leader of the criminal structure and received extensive help from members of the government and the armed forces, using the Brazilian state to implement his authoritarian project of power.”

He accused Bolsonaro of orchestrating at least 13 actions aimed at “restricting and eliminating” the judiciary and paving the way for a dictatorship.

Moraes voted to convict Bolsonaro of five crimes: violent abolition of the democratic rule of law, coup d’etat, criminal organization, damage to protected property, and aggravated damage for commanding the attempted coup.

The trial for orchestrating the coup attempt is expected to reach a verdict within days. Bolsonaro has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and insists he is innocent.

Criticism of court

Judge Moraes’s prominent role in the proceedings has drawn criticism from Bolsonaro’s allies and supporters abroad. US President Donald Trump, who has defended Bolsonaro in the past, has described the case as a “witch hunt.”

The Trump administration imposed sanctions on Moraes and enacted a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports to the US.