White House spokesman accuses Brazil of ‘Lawfare’ against Bolsonaro

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt published in her official profile on network X this afternoon, a text by Wall Street Journal Mary Anastasia O’Grady columnist whose Leavitt’s repeated title is “The Brazilian Way of Lawfare Gets Bolsonaro.” In free and approximate translation, it would be something like “the Brazilian way of ‘justice’ hits Bolsonaro.” It is another reaction from Donald Trump government authorities to the conviction of former President Jair Bolsonaro for attempted coup and four other crimes for the Supreme Court last Thursday.

The term Lawfare, in English, mixes Law and Fare (war), and describes the instrumentalization of the judicial system to discredit, harm or neutralize opponents. In the political context, this may involve investigations, legal proceedings and decisions that impact the image or ability of public figures. Bolsonarists thus describe Bolsonaro’s situation. The STF and apartidal experts have repeated that due process of law in the trial is guaranteed.

“The verdict is a hard blow to Bolsonaro supporters. But many other Brazilians, although they were not fans of the former president, also expected a different result. For years, they have worried about the politicized Supreme Court. Now, the Superior Court allowed the Federal Prosecutor to take the former president to trial in Brasilia, without appealing to the lower instances, with the express purpose of arresting the right.” O’Grady’s text republished by Leavitt. She base much of the argument in the vote of Minister Luiz Fux for Bolsonaro’s acquittal of all crimes, a position that the columnist accompanies. Fux was the only vote for acquittal in the first class, whose score ended 4-1.