Sat Dec 14 12:02:10 UTC 2024: ## Brazil Arrests Former Defense Minister for Alleged Coup Plot

**Rio de Janeiro, Brazil –** Brazilian federal police arrested former Defense Minister Walter Braga Netto on Saturday, December 14, 2024, for his alleged involvement in a plot to overturn the results of the 2022 presidential election. Two sources confirmed the arrest to Reuters.

Mr. Braga Netto, a retired army general, served as chief of staff under former President Jair Bolsonaro and was Bolsonaro’s running mate in the unsuccessful 2022 re-election bid. Federal police accuse him, along with Bolsonaro and other former government officials and military commanders, of plotting a coup following Bolsonaro’s defeat to current President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The police statement, while not naming Braga Netto specifically, confirmed the execution of an arrest warrant and other legal measures against individuals obstructing the investigation.

Authorities allege Braga Netto was a key figure in organizing the attempted coup to prevent Lula’s inauguration. While he has previously denied any wrongdoing, attempts to reach him for comment following his arrest were unsuccessful. The investigation continues.

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