The noose tightened on the Bolsonaro clan

Pressure on officials of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro increased Monday, Jan. 29, 2024, with a search at the home of one of his sons as part of an investigation into suspected illegal spying on political opponents during his rule.

“New inventions were carried out in continuity” Of the operation conducted on Thursday, “With the objective of investigating a criminal organization in the Brazilian Intelligence Agency (ABIN)”The Federal Police (PF) said in a press release.

One of the targets of the searches was Carlos Bolsonaro, a municipal councilor in Rio de Janeiro and the second of the far-right former president’s four sons, according to a judicial ruling authorizing searches in several Brazilian states on Monday.

Investigators suspect that Abin used Israeli spyware called FirstMile to spy on hundreds of politicians and public figures during the Bolsonaro presidency (2019-2022).

PF disclosed in its press release that this “New Phase” The operation launched on Thursday targeted “To identify the main recipients and beneficiaries of information illegally produced by Abin through political core, covert acts”.

“persecution”

The judicial ruling, signed by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, specifically mentions the request for information about Ebin’s investigation. “Involving the President (Bolsonaro) and his three sons”.

A February 2020 request by an aide to Carlos Bolsonaro to an associate of the then head of the intelligence agency, Alexandre Ramagem, during an exchange of messages on WhatsApp reproduced in a court document, according to investigators.

“One of my sons would never make such a request, and if he had, Mr. Ramagame would have refused it.”Jair Bolsonaro said during an interview with the channel on Monday CNN Brazil After a few hours of searching.

According to him, his son Carlos will be interviewed by the police on Tuesday.

“I have never received any information about anyone’s whereabouts. I have never required, requested or received the slightest report from Abin”The former president insisted, saying he was a victim “persecution”.

Abin’s former chief, now a federal deputy in Mr Bolsonaro’s Liberal party, was the target of one of 21 searches carried out on Thursday in connection with the same affair.

A fishing trip

On Monday, police visited a total of nine addresses in Rio de Janeiro (southeast), Goiás (central west) and Bahia (northeast), as well as in the Federal District of Brasilia.

Carlos Bolsonaro’s home in Rio de Janeiro and his office at the municipal assembly were searched.

Police also went to the residence where Jair Bolsonaro and his first three sons were in Angra dos Reis, a seaside town about 150 km from Rio.

The former president’s third son, deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro, condemned “Extra” Condemning the legal proceedings, committed according to them during the search “Illegal in addition to being unethical”.

He also denied rumors that the Bolsonaro clan fled by boat after learning of the discovery.

“As soon as they knew PF was in residence, Jer and Carlos came home”He assured.

A lawyer for the Bolsonaro family indicated on X (formerly Twitter) that they left at dawn for a fishing trip.

Images from television Globonews It showed police officers leaving Angra dos Reis’ home under the watchful eye of Jair Bolsonaro and his son Carlos, who were filmed in front of the front door.

A court document that was spied on led the first search to name Judge Moraes, as did Rodrigo Maia, former president of the Chamber of Deputies, and Camilo Santana, governor of the northeastern state of Caracas.) then and now under leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Minister of Education.

Sentenced to eight years of disqualification last year for spreading false information on an electronic voting system, Jair Bolsonaro, 68, has been besieged in business, particularly for corruption, since he lost the late 2022 presidential election to Lula.