Brazil’s Federal Police have formally accused former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro and 36 others of plotting a coup to keep him in office.

The former Brazilian president is banned from running for office until 2030 and faces criminal charges for his role in the alleged coup after the 2022 election

The recordings provide a rare chance to hear military members expressing their desire to keep leftist Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva from taking office.

Bolsonaro, who had repeatedly alleged without evidence that the country's electronic voting system was prone to fraud, called a meeting in December 2022, during which he presented a draft decree to the commanders of the three divisions of the armed forces, according to the police report, signed by four investigators.

Evidence gathered through wiretaps and warrants show that Jair Bolsonaro was aware of the plot, the police said. Brazil's top prosecutor will now decide if it warrants a trial.

SAO PAULO (AP) — Police have formally accused Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro and 36 others of attempting a coup to keep the right-wing leader in office after his electoral defeat in 2022. Their allegations threaten to torpedo Bolsonaro's hopes of returning to politics.

In recommending charges against the former president, police say Latin America’s largest country came close to suffering a coup following the 2022 election.

Bolsonaro denied any wrongdoing and claimed to be the victim of a witch hunt by President Lula and left-leaning judges, the report said. "They don't just want me in jail, they want me dead," the 69-year-old told the newspaper.

Brazil’s former president wants to return to power and said in an interview he believes the U.S. president-elect will help make that happen, possibly via economic sanctions on his leftist rivals.

Brazil's ex-president Jair Bolsonaro believes incoming US leader Donald Trump's return will boost his own comeback ambitions, despite being banned from seeking office until 2030 and investigated for a