Top Brazil court greenlights probe of Bolsonaro in riot inquiry
LA TimesA Brazilian Supreme Federal Court justice Friday authorized an investigation of whether former President Jair Bolsonaro incited Sunday’s riot in the nation’s capital, as part of a broader crackdown to hold responsible parties to account. After the justice’s decision late Friday, Bolsonaro’s lawyer Frederick Wassef said in a statement that the former president “vehemently repudiates the acts of vandalism and destruction” in Brasilia on Sunday, but blamed purported “infiltrators” of the protest — something his backers have also claimed, so far without evidence. The statement also said Bolsonaro “never had any relationship or participation with these spontaneous social movements.” Authorities are investigating who enabled Bolsonaro’s radical supporters to storm the Supreme Federal Court, Congress and presidential palace in an attempt to overturn results of the election. The court also issued an arrest warrant for the former security chief, and he must return within three days or Brazil will request his extradition, Justice Minister Flávio Dino said Friday.