Brazil’s federal police searched the house of a nephew of former President Jair Bolsonaro on Friday in reference to the 8 January storming of presidency constructions within the capital by way of far-right protesters.
Police mentioned Leonardo Rodrigues de Jesus, identified by way of Bolsonaro supporters as Leo Índio, was once one of the crucial goals of a sequence of raids that ended in 11 arrests in several states.
It was once the primary time a member of Bolsonaro’s circle of relatives have been integrated within the investigations of the rebellion in Brasilia, which underlined the political polarisation in Brazil.
Police mentioned the ones below investigation might be attempted for crimes towards democracy and legal affiliation.
De Jesus posted his image close to the doorway of the Congress development on social media at the day of the rebellion.
Later, Bolsonaro’s nephew accused leftists of infiltrating the protest to assault executive constructions. Police investigations have discovered no proof to again up this declare.
De Jesus has an in depth dating with considered one of Bolsonaro’s sons, Carlos Bolsonaro, a town council member in Rio de Janeiro.
The two frequently gave the impression in combination on the presidential palace in Brasilia when the far-right president was once in place of job. Their visits have been saved secret by way of the Bolsonaro management following opposition complaint.
Carlos Bolsonaro is the pinnacle of the previous president’s virtual operations and a key member of Bolsonaro’s failed reelection bid.
De Jesus was once considered one of Carlos Bolsonaro’s aides in Rio and moved to Brasilia in 2019. He joined a senator’s Cabinet workforce and later Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party staff as an adviser on the Senate.
He was once later fired after the native media printed he was once a “phantom employee” — somebody who didn’t display up for paintings however nonetheless was once paid for the submit.
In 2022, he ran as a Federal District councillor however did not collect sufficient votes.
De Jesus has been investigated by way of Rio de Janeiro’s judicial government since 2021, when it was once alleged he won cash transfers from the Cabinet of considered one of Bolsonaro’s sons, Flavio, when he was once at the town council. Public cash was once additionally allegedly used to pay De Jesus’ hire.
The Supreme Court had already asked De Jesus’ preventative arrest in reference to the 8 January assaults, however police mentioned he had no longer been detained but.
De Jesus can enchantment that order, however he declared a loss of budget to pay the prices of his legal professionals.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva assured at a gathering with state governors that what took place on 8 January would no longer happen once more, calling it a coup try.
