Bolsonaro, who was visiting the Metropolitan Cathedral in Brasilia on Sunday when a group of journalists met him outside, was seen on video at the threat of the O Globo newspaper reporter, after being asked about the accusations.
The journalist sought the president’s comments on alleged deposits made by a former employee of Bolsonaro’s eldest son, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, in a bank account that apparently belonged to First Lady Michelle Bolsonaro.
President Bolsonaro stood just steps from the cathedral and told the reporter, “I feel like slapping you in the mouth, okay?”
When CNN asked President Bolsonaro’s office about Sunday’s incident, his spokesman declined to comment.
In early August, the Brazilian magazine Crusóe published a report claiming that between 2011 and 2016, Fabrício Queiroz, the former helper of Bolsonaro’s eldest son, transferred around 72,000 Brazilian reals ($ 12,800) in checks to Michelle Bolsonaro.
Queiroz is currently under house arrest as a result of an ongoing investigation into corruption involving Bolsonaro’s son. President Bolsonaro has not commented on these latest allegations.
The Bolsonaro family is facing several investigations, including a proven scheme involving Flavio Bolsonaro in the state legislature of the state of Rio de Janeiro.
The Brazilian Supreme Court has also opened an investigation into Bolsonaro’s two sons, Carlos and Eduardo, for allegedly spreading false news on the internet. Other investigations include the family’s alleged involvement in protests and the alleged interference in the appointment of the director of the Federal Police of Rio de Janeiro to stop the investigations against Queiroz.
O Globo, one of Brazil’s most important news outlets, condemned Bolsonaro’s actions against the journalist in a statement published on Sunday hours after the incident.
“GLOBO denies the aggression of President Jair Bolsonaro against a newspaper reporter who just did his job to carry out his role in a fully professional manner,” the statement said.
The National Association of Journalists of Brazil also issued a statement. “It is unfortunate that the President is reacting again aggressively and fearlessly to a question from a journalist. This attitude in no way contributes to the democracy and freedom of the press provided for in the Constitution,” he said. said the statement.
Sunday’s incident also drew condemnation from Bolsonaro’s critics. Alessandro Molon, a lawmaker for the state of Rio de Janeiro, tweeted, “What a president is expected to do is behave at the height of his position. Threats to the press are threats to democracy itself.” Molon also accused Bolsonaro in the same tweet of trying to hide “his involvement in a criminal scheme.”
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