Bolsonaro is under investigation for inciting a riot in the Brazilian capital

Brazil’s Supreme Court said it will investigate former President Jair Bolsonaro for so inspiring the far-right mob raided and looted The country’s Congress, Supreme Court and presidential offices this week, a rapid escalation of the investigation showing the former leader could soon face legal consequences for an extremist movement he helped create.

In a decision late Friday Alexandre de Moraea Supreme Court judge, approved a request by federal prosecutors to include Mr. Bolsonaro in a rapidly expanding investigation into anti-democracy riots on Jan. 8.

Mr Moraes, who has emerged as one of the most powerful – and controversial – figures in the nation in recent months, said so Mr Bolsonaro’s previous questioning of Brazil’s electoral system and his attacks on Brazilian institutions, including the Supreme Court, “may have contributed in very relevant ways to the occurrence of criminal and terrorist acts,” including Sunday’s storming of government buildings.

The decision highlights the aggressive tactics used by the Brazilian authorities in response to the unrest. during law enforcement quickly arrested more than 1,000 riotersAuthorities have said they are also looking to prosecute the businessmen they believe helped fund the protest, the security officials they say allowed the violence to unfold, and now the former president who they claim inspired the anger and false beliefs that fueled the protest mob.

Frederick Wassef, Mr Bolsonaro’s lawyer, said in a statement that the former president has always publicly criticized illegal acts and defended democracy.

“President Jair Bolsonaro vehemently rejects the acts of vandalism and looting of public property committed by those infiltrating the demonstration,” Mr Wassef said. “He never had any relationship with or participation in these spontaneous social movements that were carried out by the population.”

Mr Bolsonaro has been in Florida since December 30 on an extended trip which he had hoped would help cool the various investigations into his tenure as President when his political rival, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, took office, according to a close friend, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private plans. Now he’s facing his toughest exam to date.

Mr Bolsonaro is targeted in five other Supreme Court investigations, including his handling of the pandemic; spreading misinformation; and a leak of classified information as he discussed a hack into the country’s electoral commission to support his arguments that Brazil’s electoral systems are insecure.

The attorney general’s office asked the Supreme Court, which is also Brazil’s highest criminal court, to investigate Bolsonaro for sharing on Facebook a Jan. 10 post from a prosecutor falsely claiming that Mr. Lula stole October’s election. Mr Bolsonaro deleted the post the following day.

The federal prosecutor argued that Mr Bolsonaro’s enormous influence means such posts could effectively incite crimes and therefore the court should examine how his previous actions and comments may have influenced the riot.

Mr Moraes said the January 10 post was consistent with a pattern of behavior for which it is already being investigated and therefore warranted its inclusion in the investigation. Mr Moraes said Mr Bolsonaro was being investigated for incitement to a crime, which could carry a prison sentence of up to six months.

That it was Mr Moraes who implicated Mr Bolsonaro in the Jan. 8 investigation is likely to fuel further criticism, particularly from Brazil, that the judge is overstepping his powers for political reasons. Mr Moraes, who is also Brazil’s election chief, became the most effective means of checking on Mr Bolsonaro’s power in the final stages of his presidency after launching various investigations into Mr Bolsonaro’s allies and supporters, as well as the president himself.

In many cases, Mr Moraes also used the enhanced powers granted to him by his fellow judges to prosecute attacks on Brazil’s democracy, he said. Under his leadership, the Supreme Court has jailed several supporters of Mr Bolsonaro without trial over threats against the country’s institutions. Mr Moraes has also overseen a broad crackdown on right-wing voices on social media, including several members of Congress and prominent media figures and business leaders.