Bolsonaro conviction for offending journalist sustained

A São Paulo appellate court on Wednesday confirmed a conviction against President Jair Bolsonaro for uttering derogatory statements against a female journalist.

Patrícia Campos Mello of Folha de S.Paulo, one of Brazil’s biggest newspapers, revealed in 2018 illegal bulk messaging schemes set up to privilege Mr. Bolsonaro, then the leading presidential candidate.

Mr. Bolsonaro suggested Ms. Campos Mello traded information for sex, making an innuendo with the Brazilian word for ‘scoop’ (furo, which can also mean hole). 

The decision comes as one of Mr. Bolsonaro’s most trusted advisers, the head of Caixa — Brazil’s biggest public bank —, battles sexual harassment allegations.

The president’s comments followed similar accusations from a male former employee of a digital marketing company involved in the messaging scheme — who appeared before a congressional hearings committee. The employee said Ms. Campos Mello offered sex for information. The man was convicted for defamation but the case was tossed out on a technicality.

The decision by the appellate court confirms a trial court conviction against the president. A 4-1 majority of judges also raised the compensation Mr. Bolsonaro must pay the journalist by 75 percent to BRL 35,000 (around USD 6,700).

Since the early days of his presidency, Mr. Bolsonaro has identified journalism as the “enemy.” A recent report by the National Federation of Journalists tallied 430 attacks against the press made by the president in 2021 alone.

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