Lawyers for former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro expressed surprise after federal police formally accused him of obstruction of justice. The accusation comes ahead of the sentencing phase of his trial over an alleged coup plot. If prosecutors decide to charge him based on the new accusations, Bolsonaro would face another trial.
Bolsonaro is under house arrest and had sought to leave Brazil in February 2024 but was rejected by authorities due to concerns he could flee. He claimed political persecution in a letter to the Argentine government but has denied any wrongdoing.
The federal police investigation revealed that Bolsonaro considered seeking asylum in Argentina last year, despite being under precautionary measures. One of his lawyers said he never seriously considered fleeing and had received “every kind of suggestion” from others.
A verdict and sentence in the coup trial will be announced between September 2 and 12 by a Supreme Court panel. The new findings will not be part of that decision, but Bolsonaro’s lawyers are expected to clarify his recent actions to the court.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/lawyers-brazils-bolsonaro-surprised-new-accusation-obstruction-justice-124857089