Corruption charges against the “incorruptible” Bolsonaro

Brazil’s far-right former President Jair Bolsonaro once challenged the national press to call him “corrupt,” cultivating an image in the early part of his presidency of being “incorruptible” — which he claimed set him apart from his left-wing adversaries and “old politics.”

But, for someone who had been around the block in Brasília for some time before becoming president, Mr. Bolsonaro should have known that Brazilian politicians have a knack for being hoisted by their own petard.

Last week, Brazil’s Federal Police recommended charges of embezzling, money laundering, and conspiracy against the former president, as part of a corruption scheme concerning expensive official gifts received from foreign countries during Mr. Bolsonaro’s presidency.

Along with 11 other suspects, Mr. Bolsonaro was found to have led a scheme aimed at illegally selling several official gifts — including diamonds seized by the customs authorities at Guarulhos International Airport. The gifts were not reported as official gifts to the Brazilian government, which would have classified them as official property.

Mr. Bolsonaro has denied all accusations. His defense says his bank statements are publicly available and he has never taken public property. 

This is just the latest set of criminal charges being levied at the former president, who is certainly struggling to maintain the “incorruptible” image he once thought he had.

From accusations of falsifying vaccine records to allegedly instigating an insurrection on January 8, 2023, Mr. Bolsonaro remains under multiple investigations, and has even been ruled ineligible for public office until 2030. 

The decision of whether to actually pursue these recent charges is now up to the Federal Prosecution Office. Until then, Mr. Bolsonaro can keep trying to deny his criminal side… 

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