Brazil’s Federal Police have formally accused former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro and 36 others of plotting a coup to keep him in office.

Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro plotted a coup to overturn the 2022 election along with dozens of ex-ministers and senior aides, federal police said in a formal accusation filed on Thursday with the country's Supreme Court.

Brazil’s former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro was fully aware of and actively participated in a coup plot to remain in office after his defeat in 2022.

Brazil’s former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro was fully aware of and actively participated in a coup plot to remain in office after his defeat in the 2022 election, according to

Bolsonaro denied any wrongdoing and claimed to be the victim of a witch hunt by President Lula and left-leaning judges, the report said. "They don't just want me in jail, they want me dead," the 69-year-old told the newspaper.

Brazil’s former president wants to return to power and said in an interview he believes the U.S. president-elect will help make that happen, possibly via economic sanctions on his leftist rivals.