Bolsonaro's defense says there is no evidence he attempted a coup in Brazil

Lawyers for former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro told a court today, in a last-ditch attempt to defend him, that there is no evidence that he attempted a coup in 2022, after losing the election to current President Ignacio Lula da Silva.

On the second day of the final hearing where Bolsonaro will be sentenced and sentenced on the coup attempt charge, lawyer Celso Vilardi said that even if his client is accused of planning a coup - which the defense does not admit - he never attempted to carry out the act and therefore should not be punished.

According to Vilardi, his position is supported by the fact that Bolsonaro has ordered a transition of power from himself to Da Silva after the 2022 presidential election.

The former right-wing leader denies doing anything illegal and has repeatedly stated that the trial is a politically motivated attack on him.

Prosecutors pointed to evidence that Bolsonaro gathered senior cabinet members and military officials to discuss issuing an emergency decree aimed at suspending the electoral process and investigating alleged fraud.

However, the defense noted that this decree was never issued.

"Planning is not execution. No matter how detailed the planning may be, it is the act of violence that actually constitutes a crime," Vilardi told the Supreme Court panel judges in a televised hearing, adding, "Bolsonaro ordered the transfer of power. He did not act against the democratic rule of law."

Brazil's criminal code states that the crime of coup d'état exists when a civilian or military public official "attempts to overthrow the established government or prevent the functioning of constitutional institutions."

Bolsonaro is under house arrest and was not in court today, nor was he yesterday.

It must be decided by September 12th at the latest whether Bolsonaro is guilty or not.

The case is being presided over by Judge Aleksandar de Moraes, whom Bolsonaro considers a political enemy and who is under sanctions from the Republican administration of US President Donald Trump, who has called the process against Bolsonaro a "witch hunt."

Trump directly linked the 50 percent US tariffs on Brazilian goods to the judicial situation of his right-wing ally.

De Moraes indirectly criticized Trump yesterday when he said that Brazil's Supreme Court must ignore external pressure.

Bolsonaro has been charged with five counts: attempted coup d'état, participation in an armed criminal organization, attempting to violently abolish the democratic rule of law, and two counts of destruction of state property.

If Bolsonaro is found guilty of the coup alone, it carries a prison sentence of up to 12 years.