A Reuters investigation described a Trump administration effort to help return Brazil’s Bolsonaro political clan to power
Reuters said two State Department officials spearheaded a campaign to return Brazil’s Bolsonaro clan to power. Ten current and former U.S. officials told Reuters the pair backed measures to weaken President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and boost the Bolsonaros, including sanctions on a Brazilian Supreme Court justice and designating Brazilian gangs as terrorist groups. The White House declined comment.
More context
Two U.S. State Department officials led a campaign to return Brazil’s Bolsonaro clan to power, pushing U.S. sanctions to tilt the election in its favor, according to 10 current and former U.S. officials with direct knowledge who spoke to Reuters. Since last year, the men advocated punitive measures designed to erode Lula’s standing and strengthen the Bolsonaro family. The measures included designating Brazilian gangs as terrorist groups and sanctioning the unnamed Brazilian Supreme Court justice leading the investigation into former President Jair Bolsonaro. Reuters could not determine whether the officials acted on orders from the White House or Secretary of State Marco Rubio. On Sunday, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro faces Lula in a close presidential runoff. The White House declined comment and referred questions to the State Department.
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Reporting
- Internazionale — Inside the Trump-administration campaign to return Brazil’s Bolsonaro clan to power - Internazionale
- miamiherald.com — Inside the Trump-administration campaign to return Brazil's Bolsonaro clan to power | Miami Herald
- org.eg — Trump administration led campaign to return Bolsonaro clan to power in Brazil: Reuters - International - World
Verifier’s note
These results report the central claim that U.S. State Department officials campaigned to help return the Bolsonaro clan to power. They were published within hours of the proposed event, with no contradiction of its central claims.