Lawyers ask for impeachment of Brasília governor, following riots

A group of human rights lawyers filed a request to impeach Governor Ibaneis Rocha of Brasília. 

The lawyers accuse Mr. Rocha of committing crimes against the free exercise of constitutional powers, crimes against national security, and malfeasance for his role in the lackluster security deployment that allowed a pro-Bolsonaro demonstration to evolve into a violent riot, with mobs storming the Congress and Supreme Court buildings, as well as the presidential palace.

“The carrying out of such acts of violence and terrorism was known to Governor Ibaneis Rocha. Brasília security forces even escorted the extremists to the Three Powers Square,” the impeachment request reads.

Local authorities had planned to deal with protests this week with a relatively small, minimally visible presence. Video footage shared on social media shows that many of the few officers present at the scene were peaceful conversing with rioters. Some were even taking selfies as throngs of radicals destroyed public property.

Governor Rocha released a video excusing himself to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva — and to House Speaker Arthur Lira and Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco — for Sunday’s events.

“What happened today in our city was simply unacceptable. Since yesterday afternoon, together with [Justice] Minister Flávio Dino, we have been monitoring all these movements that were arriving in the Federal District,” he said. “We talked between yesterday and today on several occasions and we never believed that these demonstrations would take the proportions that they did.”

President Lula issued a decree placing Brasília’s security apparatus under federal intervention. 

Gleisi Hoffmann, the chairperson of Lula’s Workers’ Party, said the capital’s government was “irresponsible” in facing the crisis. “It is a long-announced crime against democracy, the will of the vote,” she said on Twitter. “[Brasília] Governor [Ibaneis Rocha] and his Bolsonarist security secretary [Anderson Torres] are responsible for whatever happens.”

Mr. Rocha fired Mr. Torres, his top security officer. Additionally, the Solicitor General’s Office asked for Mr. Torres’s arrest.

Citizens from Brasília plan a demonstration asking for Mr. Rocha’s ousting on Monday morning, in front of the governor’s office. Another demonstration will take place in São Paulo.

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