The former president of Brazil, Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years, three months in prison when the country's Supreme Court convicted him on charges of plotting a coup to stop the democratically elected President Lula da Silva from taking office in January 2023.
Bolsanaro’s chaotic four-year reign saw nearly 700,000 COVID deaths, tens of millions plunged into poverty, and South America’s largest economy become a pariah notorious for Amazon annihilation.
Yet, here is the U.S. State Department and President Trump vowing to punish Brazil and its leaders for this outcome. The democratic outcome that Brazil has taken in convicting an insurrectionist puts the United States response to shame.
Rather than impeaching those responsible for the Jan. 6 insurrection and punishing participants, our great democracy essentially rubber-stamped this behavior. It is bad enough that this administration is making a mess of our economy and country, but to meddle in the governing affairs and decisions of another country through strong arm tactics is frankly abhorrent.
Pam Rule
Montrose
