*Formal review of evidence constitutes final step in ongoing procedure
*Analyst warn of possible repercussions is Bolsonaro is formally charged
*Former pres. Bolsonaro may face a 28-year sentence
*Analyst warn of possible repercussions is Bolsonaro is formally charged
*Former pres. Bolsonaro may face a 28-year sentence
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NewsTranscript
00:00Brazil's Supreme Court will hold a special session this Tuesday for a final review of evidence in the indictment of former President Jair Bolsonaro.
00:09Our correspondent Brian Meir has more.
00:13On March 25th, the first panel of Brazil's Supreme Court, a body made up of five ministers,
00:19is going to conduct a formal review of the evidence in the indictments of former President Jair Bolsonaro and seven of his associates,
00:26including his former defense minister and vice presidential running mate, General Walter Braga Neto.
00:32At this point, they'll decide whether to set trial dates and formally charge them for attempting to implement a military coup in January 2023.
00:42The ministers of the first panel are going to analyze the following.
00:45Was there a crime?
00:47Is there what they call materiality in legal terminology?
00:51Are the facts presented by the Attorney General's office considered crimes?
00:55Yes. If they are considered crimes, they will analyze whether there are signs that the people indicted are the authors of these crimes.
01:03At this moment, they only need signs of guilt. They don't have to prove that they committed the crimes.
01:08The formal review of evidence is the final procedural step in a long process full of legal checks and balances
01:14that began with a parliamentary inquiry in March 2023 and culminated on February 18th, 2025,
01:21when the Attorney General indicted the former president and 32 of his cronies.
01:29The Attorney General's indictment is based on both the evidence that was gathered by the federal police
01:34and on the bicameral parliamentary inquiry, and in all of these, all three investigations,
01:43Jair Bolsonaro appears as the leader of the coup attempt, and, together with him,
01:47General Braga Netto, General Helino, and others make up what we can refer to as the command center of the coup.
01:53Many analysts in Brazil and around the world are wondering what the repercussions will be
01:57if the Supreme Court rules to formally declare the former president as defendant in a criminal trial.
02:03The battle for amnesty in Congress will probably intensify now.
02:10I don't believe there is enough political will for this to succeed.
02:15Congress won't approve this, but they're going to go through the motions,
02:20because their goal is to make a lot of noise.
02:23This can help right-wing extremism grow in Brazil, and this can enable and strengthen
02:28the candidacy of Jair Bolsonaro's successor, who is his son.
02:32If the Supreme Court decides to move ahead with a trial and the former president is convicted,
02:38Jair Bolsonaro will be looking at up to 28 years behind bars.
02:43Brian Meir, tell us, sir, Brasilia.