Brazil's Bolsonaro Convicted, Sentenced 27 Years Coup Attempt

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison after being convicted by Brazil's Supreme Court for orchestrating a plot to overturn the 2022 presidential election and assassinate President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and other officials. The court ruled that Bolsonaro led a criminal organization intent on subverting democratic rule and maintaining power through violent means, marking the first time a former Brazilian leader was found guilty of such charges. Four of five justices voted to convict Bolsonaro and seven co-defendants, which included high-ranking military and government officials. Bolsonaro has denied wrongdoing, calling the trial a "witch hunt," and remains under house arrest while appeals are considered. The verdict has heightened political tensions in Brazil, with Bolsonaro's supporters protesting and claiming political persecution, while internationally, U.S. President Donald Trump criticized the conviction, likening it to his own experiences and calling it a "terrible thing." Bolsonaro's conviction reflects Brazil's turbulent political history, echoing past conflicts involving Lula, who himself was previously imprisoned but later had his convictions annulled, leading to his current presidency.