Former Justice minister claims he would never connive with riot
Former Justice and Public Security minister of Brazil and onetime secretary of Public Security of the Federal District, Anderson Torres said he would “never provide the conditions” for the pro-coup attacks on government buildings that took place in Brasília on January 8.
The statement was made during his custody hearing on January 14, made public Monday (Jan. 23). Torres also said he is not taking part in what he termed “the ideological war,” adding he did not question the outcome of the elections. The former official was arrested after landing in Brasília.
At the beginning of his testimony, the former minister denied being involved with the riot and stated he heard the news of his arrest while on a vacation trip to the US like a “cannon shot through the chest.” His detention was ordered by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes.
“Both the arrest and the accusation took me very much by surprise. The custody hearing is not the place to talk about it, but I’d like to say I have nothing to do with these facts. It came like a cannon shot through the chest. I was on vacation—a vacation my family and I had been dreaming of. […] On the second day of vacation this horrendous crime happens in Brasília—an attack against the country. And I was held responsible for it. I could never have allowed this to happen. I am a professional. I am an expert. And I’d never do this,” he declared.
The erstwhile secretary stated he “tried to bring calm” to the delicate moment facing the branches of power while he was in command of the Ministry of Justice and Public Security—which included paying visits to Supreme Court justices.
“I leave home every day at seven and arrive at midnight. I’m sorry I’m venting, but being accused of terrorism, coup d’état? For God’s sake, what’s going on? This war raging in the country, this confusion between branches, this ideological war… I take no part in it. I’m a reasonable enough citizen and I have no responsibility in this,” he concluded saying.
Custody hearings aim to verify conditions at the time of arrest. Therefore, Torres was not questioned regarding the accusations of omission during the incidents, or concerning the draft presidential decree found in his home during the execution of search and seizure by federal agents.
The text of the decree outlined a military intervention at the headquarters of the Superior Electoral Court in a bid to contest President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s victory in the 2022 elections.
