Flávio Bolsonaro deposition canceled in Lula calumny probe

The Brazilian Federal Police have canceled a scheduled deposition by Senator Flávio Bolsonaro regarding an investigation into alleged calumny against President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Bolsonaro’s legal team submitted written justifications to the Federal Police and the Supreme Federal Court, requesting that these documents suffice in lieu of an in-person hearing. The investigation stems from a social media post made by the senator on January 3, 2026, in which he associated images of Lula with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and listed various crimes, including money laundering and electoral fraud.

Defense attorneys argue that the post did not constitute a false attribution of specific facts to the President. They contend the publication contained true news items followed by independent comments, one of which referred to Maduro and accusations made by U.S. authorities. The Federal Police will now analyze the submitted material to determine if the written information is sufficient for the ongoing inquiry.