Brazil: Jair Bolsonaro Supporters Wreck Artistic Treasures at Riot

The magnitude of the damage caused by January 8 Brazil attack in which a mob of Jair Bolsonaro supporters stormed government facilities is only now becoming apparent, AP noted.

The National Artistic Heritage Institute conducted a thorough investigation of the destruction and produced a 50-page report on Thursday evening, the most of which is a photographic inventory of the destruction.

There was extensive damage to modernist furniture, paintings, sculptures, and ceramics. Sprinkler water and urine were found absorbed into carpets throughout the buildings.

The report claims that Jair Bolsonaro's avid supporters scratched the famous marble ramp to the presidential palace, leaving some scars up to two feet in length.

Supporters of Bolsonaro, who frequently strained against the checks of the Supreme Court, etched "Supreme are the people" into a historic wooden table at the court.

A Balthazar Martinot clock from the 17th century that had been donated to the Portuguese King by the French royal court was destroyed.

On the third level of the presidential palace, the shards of a 60-year-old bronze sculpture of a flutist by Bruno Giorgi were scattered over the room.

Rocks were thrown through the canvas of an Emiliano Di Cavalcanti mural by vandals.

Although paintings of this size typically sell for five times as much at auction, the presidential palace claimed in its statement that "As Mulatas" was worth around $1.5 million.

Yet, it is still being determined how much money will be needed to cover the damage.

The president of the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco, estimated that the damage to his chamber alone was in the millions.

Dems Pressure U.S. To Push Jair Bolsonaro Back to Brazil

Jair Bolsonaro fled to the United States a few days before Lula took office as president on January 1.

A supporter in the Orlando, Florida, area has offered him their condo to stay in. However, there is mounting demand for him to leave.

On Thursday, more than 40 Democratic senators petitioned President Biden demanding that the government cancel Bolsonaro's visa.

The letter also requested that federal authorities investigate the possibility that the Brazil attack was funded or organized in the United States.

Lawmakers and media outlets have speculated that Bolsonaro visited the United States using a visa designated for foreign diplomats, but the State Department has refused to confirm this.

Meanwhile, the political future of Bolsonaro and his far-right movement, say analysts, was severely damaged by the Brazil attack, NPR reported.

On the other hand, if politicians from all parties - and countries - express solidarity with Brazil in the wake of the riots, Lula's immediate political outlook may gain a boost.

Lula da Silva to Get Rid of Jair Bolsonaro Loyalist Within Brazil Security Forces Following Rampage

During a press conference on Thursday, Brazilian President Lula da Silva blamed members of the security forces for allowing an anti-government crowd to ransack the seat of power in Brasilia and vowed to purge the ranks of his predecessor's most ardent followers, according to Reuters.

His top advisors have indicated that identifying and excluding such people will be difficult work.

Still, investigations into who allowed supporters of deposed president Jair Bolsonaro to attack and vandalize the presidential palace have already begun.

"There were a lot of people who were complicit in this among the military police. There were many people from the armed forces who were complicit," Lula told journalists. "I am convinced that the door to the palace was opened to allow these people in, because I did not see that the door was broken."

Lula da Silva has also increased his criticism of the military for doing little to dissuade the Bolsonaro supporters who have been camping out outside the army's headquarters for two months, demanding that the military change the result of the October elections.

There was silence from the Brazilian military in response to interview requests.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Brazil Culture Minister assesses damaged Planalto art - From Associated Press