PF: Bolsonaro sent over 300 messages and videos to circumvent STF

Amid the compliance with precautionary measures, former President Jair Bolsonaro attempted to circumvent the restrictions imposed by the Brazilian Supreme Court (STF) by sharing content from the August 3 manifestation and videos related to sanctions against Minister Alexandre de Moraes. The messages were sent in a series via WhatsApp, according to the Federal Police (PF).
The most recent seized device shows a large number of files sent by Bolsonaro on the day of the pro-Bolsonaro event in São Paulo, distributed in WhatsApp groups. The objective, according to the PF, was to use third-party social media in an attempt to disobey the STF order.
“Given the large number of files, the investigation highlighted the main contents shared on 8/3/2025 by the investigated Jair Bolsonaro, with the aim of using third party social networks to bypass the prohibition order to rebroadcast content imposed by the Court,” details the PF report.
The messages obtained by the PF on Bolsonaro’s phone are included in the corporation’s final report, with the indictment of former President Jair Bolsonaro and his son Eduardo Bolsonaro, a licensed federal deputy, for crimes of coercion in the course of the process and attempted abolition of the Democratic State of Law through the restriction on the exercise of constitutional powers.
The PF concluded the investigations that looked into acts of coercion during Criminal Action No. 2668, currently undergoing in the STF. The process investigates an alleged coup attempt that took place in Brazil between 2022 and 2023. The lawsuit involves eight defendants, including former President Jair Bolsonaro, and accusations of organized crime, attempted abolition of the democratic state of law, and coup d’état.
In total, the shares exceeded 300 directly sent by the former president. Among the contents were news about ‘consequences that could devastate the economy’ with sanctions against Moraes, calls for mobilization of supporters in Brazil, videos of President Donald Trump defending ‘our freedom,’ and statements from Brazilian authorities calling for freedom for Bolsonaro.
According to the PF, the modus operandi used by Bolsonaro in this offensive to try to circumvent judicial decisions is equivalent to that identified in the digital militias inquiry. In one of these situations, the investigators mention a message from federal deputy Capitão Alden (PL-BA) asking the ex-president to send an audio to the participants of an event in Salvador (BA).
Bolsonaro replied saying he was afraid to send recordings, but there would be no problem if it were a call. The former president also spoke to his son, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ), at an event in Rio de Janeiro, an episode that later led to his house arrest.