Former Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro's nephew probed by police over uprising

Police said Leonardo Rodrigues de Jesus, known by Mr. Bolsonaro supporters as Leo Índio, was one of the targets of a series of raids that led to 11 arrests in various state.

Supporters of Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro are detained during a demonstration against President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, outside Planalto Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, on January 8, 2023. | Photo Credit: Reuters

Brazil's federal police searched the home of a nephew of former President Jair Bolsonaro in connection with the January 8 storming of government buildings in the capital by far-right protesters.

Police said Leonardo Rodrigues de Jesus, known by Mr. Bolsonaro supporters as Leo Índio, was one of the targets of a series of raids that led to 11 arrests in various states.

It was the first time a member of Mr. Bolsonaro's family has been included in the investigations of the uprising in Brasilia, which underlined the political polarisation in Brazil. Police said those under investigation could be tried for crimes against democracy and criminal association.

Mr. De Jesus posted his picture near the entrance of the Congress building on social media on the day of the uprising. Later, Mr. Bolsonaro's nephew accused leftists of infiltrating the protest to attack government buildings. Police investigations have found no evidence to back up this claim.

Mr. De Jesus has a close relationship to one of Mr. Bolsonaro's sons, Carlos Bolsonaro, a city council member in Rio de Janeiro. The two often appeared together at the Presidential palace in Brasilia when the far-right President was in office. Their visits were put under secrecy following opposition criticism.

Carlos Bolsonaro is the head of the former President's digital operations and a key member of Mr. Bolsonaro's failed re-election bid. Mr. De Jesus was one of Carlos Bolsonaro's aides in Rio and moved to Brasilia in 2019. He joined a senator's Cabinet team and later Mr. Bolsonaro's Liberal Party group as an advisor at the Senate. He was later fired after the local media revealed that he was a phantom employee. In 2022, he ran as a Federal District councillor but didn't gather enough votes.

Mr. De Jesus has been investigated by Rio de Janeiro's judicial authorities since 2021, when it was alleged he received money transfers from the Cabinet of one of Mr. Bolsonaro's sons, Flavio, when he was on the city council. Public money was also allegedly used to pay Mr. De Jesus' rent.

The Supreme Court had already requested Mr. De Jesus' preventative arrest in connection with the January 8 attacks, but police said he had not been detained yet. Mr. De Jesus can appeal that order, but he declared a lack of funds to pay the costs of his attorneys.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva guaranteed at a meeting with state governors that what happened on January 8 won't occur again, calling it a coup attempt.