Former Brazil Defense Minister Arrested in Coup Plot

Walter Braga Netto, Brazil's former defense minister and close ally of ex-president Jair Bolsonaro, has been arrested by federal police in connection with an alleged coup plot aimed at overturning the results of the 2022 presidential election. Braga Netto, who also served as Bolsonaro's chief of staff and was his running mate in the failed reelection bid, faces accusations of orchestrating a conspiracy to prevent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva from taking office. Although he has denied these allegations, police have labeled him as a central figure in the plot. The arrest, made at his home in Rio de Janeiro, is part of a broader investigation that has implicated Bolsonaro and other former officials. Federal police executed search and seizure warrants during the operation, indicating ongoing efforts to gather evidence related to the conspiracy. Formal charges against Braga Netto have yet to be filed, but the investigation continues to unfold amidst a backdrop of political tension in Brazil.