On Monday (29/08), Supreme Court (STF) Minister Alexandre de Moraes lifted the secrecy of the decision, which was given by him, that authorized searches and seizures against businessmen who support Bolsonaro and defended a coup d’état through WhatsApp messages. In the decision, Moraes wrote that there is no doubt about the possibility of attacks against democracy and the rule of law in the conduct of these businessmen.
WhatsApp Messages
The content of the messages was revealed by the website “Metrópoles” on 17 August. Businessmen debated the possibility of a coup if President Jair Bolsonaro lost the election.
Other Investigations
Minister Alexandre also stated that facts found in two other inquiries make the latest investigations into this group of businessmen essential. The inquiries are the “Fake News Inquiry”, which investigate the spread of fake news; and that of “Digital Militias”, which investigates organized groups that act on the internet against democratic institutions. According to Moraes, the messages exchanged by businessmen supporting a coup are similar to these two cases, since in all of them people involved have great socioeconomic capacity, thus potential for financing illicit digital activities and to incite undemocratic acts.
