Jair Bolsonaro Appears Before Brazil Police for January 8 Riot
Jair Bolsonaro has testified in front of the federal police amid the investigation of the January 8 riot, which saw the attack on government buildings by his supporters in the capital Brasilia after he lost in the presidential election.
Al Jazeera reported that Bolsonaro arrived at the police headquarters in a vehicle with tinted windows on Wednesday morning and did not provide any results to journalists.
Bolsonaro's spokesperson, Fabio Wajngarten, spoke to reporters, saying that the former Brazilian president renounced every unfortunate event that occurred in the capital.
Hundreds of alleged January 8 riot participants are expected to stand trial.
Before the election results, Bolsonaro claimed without evidence that there could be a possibility of election fraud in the country's electronic voting system while never explicitly conceding defeat.
Brazil's Prosecutor-General Augusto Aras noted that Bolsonaro "allegedly encouraged the perpetration of crimes" two weeks before the former president's appearance before the authorities.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva previously accused Bolsonaro of planning the January 8 riot, determining it as a "coup."
Jair Bolsonaro on Brazil's January 8 Riot
Bolsonaro shared a video to social media of a prosecutor contesting the validity of Lula's victory, which was one of the reasons the investigation was launched.
The former president's lawyer, Paulo Bueno, said that the president was under medication when he shared the video, adding that Bolsonaro had just been admitted when he shared the footage.
Bueno noted after the hearing that the sharing was so accidental that he did not mention it soon removed it, as reported by France 24.
Bolsonaro denied all involvement or any role he played in the January 8 riots initiated by his supporters, according to a source.
Another Bolsonaro lawyer, Daniel Tesser, told reporters said that Bolsonaro renounce "any kid of anti-democratic deed."
The former president of Brazil faces at least 16 separate investigations as well as a growing scandal over allegations that he tried to illegally take possession of millions of dollars worth of jewelry given to him by the Saudi government.
The Guardian noted that the political backers of Bolsonaro are reportedly considering who might replace him if his legal challenges were to continue.
The former first lady, Michelle Bolsonaro, was said to be one of the options.
Brazil's January 8 Riot
Lula said he believed that some police had conspired with protesters. They also alleged the officers of political bias.
Lula noted in a CNN News report that there were a lot of "people colluding, adding that there was "a lot of conniving people from the military."
Former policeman and public security researcher Cassio Thyone explained that some officers may have acted "inappropriately," possibly believing that the prosecutors could not break in.
The Institutional Security Office said its officers were being investigated. However, it defended its conduct as an "attempt to strategically concentrate demonstrators" in one place to arrest them.
The GSI advises the president on security matters and manages law enforcement.
This article is owned by Latin Post.
Written by: Mary Webber
WATCH: Jair Bolsonaro faces questions by police, denies role in riots - from DW News