Majority of Brazilian Supreme Court panel votes to convict Bolsonaro of attempted coup

The majority of a panel of Brazil's Supreme Court as of Thursday has voted to convict former President Jair Bolsonaro of organized crime and attempting a coup to remain in power after he lost the 2022 election. 

Bolsonaro was placed under house arrest last month as the South American court weighed the case. Bolsonaro has denied all allegations, which include attempting to stage a coup, leading an armed criminal organization and attempted violent abolition of the democratic rule of law. He was also banned from speaking to foreign officials, approaching embassies, and using social media ahead of the trial.

Three of the five justices on the panel have voted to convict Bolsonaro of all charges, while one judge, Luiz Fux, broke with his peers on all five charges, stating there was not enough evidence to convict, according to the Associated Press.

One other justice will still need to vote before a final verdict is announced. 

The justices are expected to decide on Bolsonaro's sentence after all five justices have finished voting, which could see the former president sentenced to decades in prison.

Bolsonaro's legal team is expected to appeal the verdict to the full 11-member Supreme Court. 

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.