Defense of Bolsonaro and other defendants can participate in confrontations, decides Moraes

Minister Alexandre de Moraes, of the Federal Supreme Court, decided this Monday 23 that the defense of former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) and other defendants in the coup plot action will be able to participate in the confrontation between Lieutenant Colonel Mauro Cid and Walter Braga Netto, former Minister of the Civil House under Bolsonaro.

“All defenses of the co-defendants in this criminal action have the right to participate in the confrontations, including defendants Jair Messias Bolsonaro and Paulo Sérgio Nogueira de Oliveira,” the minister stated in the ruling. The defenses of the former president and the former minister had earlier filed requests to participate in the confrontation.

In addition to the confrontation between Bolsonaro's former minister and Cid, the Supreme Court will also bring Torres face to face with General Freire Gomes, former commander of the Army. The confrontations, as well as the interrogations , will be conducted by Moraes, the rapporteur of the case.

The proceedings were requested by the defenses of Anderson Torres and Braga Netto. For Torres' defense, the confrontation is important to question alleged contradictions in Freire Gomes' initial testimony.

Still in the process, Braga Netto and Cid's versions clashed after, according to the former aide-de-camp, a sum of money was delivered in a box of wine .

Since the proceedings will be recorded in writing, the confrontations will not be broadcast. The Supreme Court will also not allow the proceedings to be followed by the press, unlike the hearings in which the defendants were questioned.