Insider

Pro-Bolsonaro lawmakers push conspiracy theory with Reuters photographer

Congressmen Alexandre Ramagem and Eduardo Bolsonaro during a public hearing on the January 8 riots. Photo: Geraldo Magela/Agência Senado

Pro-Bolsonaro lawmakers on Tuesday used a public hearing to promote a conspiracy theory that suggested a collaboration between a Reuters photographer and vandals during the January 8 riots.

Brazilian photographer Adriano Machado took photos inside the presidential palace during the riots, when thousands of pro-Bolsonaro vandals invaded and ransacked the main buildings of all three branches of the government in Brasília. At the request of pro-Bolsonaro lawmakers, he was subpoenaed to testify before the joint congress select committee on the January 8 riots.

Congressman Alexandre Ramagem, who previously served as the head of Brazil’s intelligence agency Abin during the Jair Bolsonaro administration, sarcastically said that it was an “impressive coincidence” that Mr. Machado took photos both during the January 8 riots and the December 12 attempted invasion of the Federal Police headquarters, both of which were committed by pro-Bolsonaro vandals who rejected the election’s result. As Mr. Ramagem then changed the subject, Mr. Machado was not given a chance to reply. As a professional photographer, it is only natural that he worked on both occasions.

Congressman Marco Feliciano falsely claimed that Mr. Machado, as a citizen, had the obligation to declare to the vandals that they were under arrest. Although Brazilian legislation allows anyone to make a citizen’s arrest, only police officers are required to do so when witnessing a crime. Mr. Machado replied he was doing his job, which is to take photos.

The conspiracy theory targeting Mr. Machado has been circulating since earlier this year. Back in May, the presidential press office issued a statement affirming that Mr. Machado was fulfilling his “natural role” and repudiated the disinformation campaign that attempted to portray him as an “infiltrator” attempting to blame pro-Bolsonaro demonstrators for the riots. Reuters also declared that they support Mr. Machado’s work, which they deemed “impartial and of the public interest”.

In fact, the fact that the January 8 vandals were Bolsonaro sympathizers is indisputable, including the fact that pro-Bolsonaro lawmakers visited them in jail several times. Deputy Justice minister Ricardo Cappelli noted that the protest camp outside the Army’s headquarters, set up shortly after the October election, was “central” to the unrest. He stated that all the vandalism was “organized, planned, and supported at that camp”. Local Brasília police attempted to dismantle the camp in late December, but they were prevented from doing so by the Army.

The select committee’s rapporteur, Senator Eliziane Gama, said to Mr. Machado, “You were simply fulfilling your role, doing your job as a journalist in this country”. She added that he should not have been subpoenaed in the first place.