The Brazilian Supreme Court holds the verdict and sentencing phase of a trial for those charged in an alleged coup plot to keep Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro in office after his 2022 election defeat, in Brasilia, Brazil, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)2025-09-02T04:01:24Z BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) A Brazilian Supreme Court panel opened the verdict and sentencing phase Tuesday in the trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro on allegations that he led a conspiracy to stay in power after losing the 2022 presidential election. The court panel scheduled sessions on five days through Sept. 12 to decide whether the far-right ex-leader is guilty of seeking to overturn the election result in which he was narrowly defeated by President Luiz Incio Lula da Silva.History teaches us that impunity, omission, and cowardice are not options for peace, Justice Alexandre de Moraes said as the trial commenced.De Moraes, who is presiding over the case and is considered a foe by Bolsonaro, also said that the role of the Supreme Court is to judge impartially regardless of threats or legal action, ignoring internal or external pressure. Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes speaks during the verdict and sentencing phase of a trial for those charged in an alleged coup plot to keep Brazils former President Jair Bolsonaro in office after his 2022 election defeat, in Brasilia, Brazil, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes speaks during the verdict and sentencing phase of a trial for those charged in an alleged coup plot to keep Brazils former President Jair Bolsonaro in office after his 2022 election defeat, in Brasilia, Brazil, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More That was an indirect swipe at President Donald Trump, who directly tied a 50% tariff on imported Brazilian goods to his allys judicial situation. Trump has called the proceedings a witch hunt against a political opponent, triggering nationalist reactions from many Brazilian politicians. Bolsonaro, who denies any wrongdoing, has repeatedly said the trial is politically motivated.He is under house arrest and was not present at the court on Tuesday. His lawyer Celso Vilardi told journalists that was because of Bolsonaros ill health. Bolsonaro is already banned from electionsOn Monday night, his sons Carlos and Jair Renan prayed along with other supporters during a vigil at the condominium where he is serving house arrest. The former leader was charged with five counts: attempting to stage a coup, involvement in an armed criminal organization, attempted violent abolition of the democratic rule of law and two counts involving destruction of state property.A guilty verdict on the coup plot charge alone carries a sentence of up to 12 years. Journalists work outside the Supreme Court prior to the verdict and sentencing phase of a trial for those charged in an alleged coup plot to keep Brazils former President Jair Bolsonaro in office after his 2022 election defeat, in Brasilia, Brazil, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) Journalists work outside the Supreme Court prior to the verdict and sentencing phase of a trial for those charged in an alleged coup plot to keep Brazils former President Jair Bolsonaro in office after his 2022 election defeat, in Brasilia, Brazil, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Seven other close allies of Bolsonaro are being tried alongside the former president, including Walter Braga Netto, his former running mate and defense minister, and Paulo Srgio Nogueira, another former defense minister.Brazils top electoral court has already banned Bolsonaro from running in elections until 2030 over abuse of power while in office and casting unfounded doubts on the countrys electronic voting system. A federal police investigation said efforts to disseminate fake news about Brazils voting system were part of a multipronged plan to keep Bolsonaro in office.The prosecution in the coup trial has alleged that the plot included a plan to kill Lula and de Moraes. It also says that a riot on Jan. 8, 2023, when Bolsonaro supporters ransacked top government buildings a week after Lula took office, was an attempt to force military intervention and oust the new president. Trial arguments wrapped up in August During the trial, the prosecution presented handwritten notes, digital files, message exchanges, and spreadsheets that they said were evidence of the conspiracy to keep Bolsonaro in power. Defense lawyers argued that the fact that Bolsonaro allowed the presidential transition to take place after the election undermines the allegation that he plotted to thwart it.The prosecution finished presenting its case in July and the defense wrapped up its arguments mid-August.Shortly thereafter, police accused Bolsonaro and his son Eduardo of obstruction of justice, saying the ex-president wanted to flee to Argentina last year and request political asylum. The Brazilian Supreme Court holds the verdict and sentencing phase of a trial for those charged in an alleged coup plot to keep Brazils former President Jair Bolsonaro in office after his 2022 election defeat, in Brasilia, Brazil, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) The Brazilian Supreme Court holds the verdict and sentencing phase of a trial for those charged in an alleged coup plot to keep Brazils former President Jair Bolsonaro in office after his 2022 election defeat, in Brasilia, Brazil, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Eduardo Bolsonaro moved to the U.S. earlier this year despite holding a seat in Brazils Congress and has sought sanctions against de Moraes. The Trump administration imposed sanction on de Moraes in late July, freezing any assets he might have in the U.S.Authorities see Bolsonaro as a flight risk. In the lead up to the verdict and sentencing phase, the Supreme Court ordered further security measures. On Saturday, De Moraes permitted the inspection of vehicles leaving Bolsonaros residence and mandated in-person surveillance of the area surrounding his home. Breaks with tradition of military coupExperts have labeled Bolsonaros trial as historic and highlighted that its the first time high-ranking officials accused of an attempted coup are being subjected to a criminal trial.A military dictatorship ruled Brazil for more than two decades between 1964 and 1985, an era for which Bolsonaro has expressed nostalgia. The government passed a sweeping Amnesty Law in 1979 and Brazil never prosecuted any of the military officials responsible for the widespread human rights violations during that era. Dawn breaks at the Supreme Court headquarters where the trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro begins in the case for allegedly leading a conspiracy to stay in power, in Brasilia, Brazil, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) Dawn breaks at the Supreme Court headquarters where the trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro begins in the case for allegedly leading a conspiracy to stay in power, in Brasilia, Brazil, Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) Share Share Facebook Copy Link copied Print Email X LinkedIn Bluesky Flipboard Pinterest Reddit Read More Brazils violent past has yet to be fully reckoned with, but this trial marks a historic departure from impunity, said Lucas Figueiredo, the author of several books about the countrys most recent dictatorship.History will tell whether it is 100% successful, but what we are seeing today is a movement that breaks with a tradition of military coups, he said.