Home of Bolsonaro relative searched

BRASILIA, Brazil — Brazil’s federal police searched Friday the home of former President Jair Bolsonaro’s nephew in connection with the Jan. 8 storming of government buildings in the capital by far-right protesters.

Police said Leonardo Rodrigues de Jesus was one of the targets of a series of raids that led to 11 arrests in different states. It was the first time a member of Bolsonaro’s family has been included in the investigations of the uprising in Brasilia.

Police said those under investigation could be tried for crimes against democracy and criminal association.

De Jesus posted Jan. 8 his picture near the entrance of the Congress building on social media. Later, he accused leftists of infiltrating the protest to attack government buildings. Police investigations have found no evidence to back up this claim.

The Supreme Court had already requested De Jesus’ preventive arrest in connection with the Jan. 8 attacks, but police said he had not been detained yet. De Jesus can appeal that order, but he declared a lack of funds to pay the costs of his attorneys.