US and Brazil could join forces in Brasilia riots investigation

Two sides look to draw on experience from storming of US Capitol in 2020

A meeting of the University of Sao Paulo Collective in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The collective invited all citizens, social and democratic entities, parties and movements to speak out against supporters of former president Jair Bolsonaro who attacked government institutions in Brasilia on Sunday. EPA

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva meets government ministers and other officials following the riot. Getty Images

Workers clear debris left by pro-Bolsonaro supporters during the riot. Getty

Damaged portraits hang in the Brazilian National Congress after the riot, in which more than 1,200 people were detained. Getty

Damage to the Brazilian National Congress following the riot. Getty

Workers clear debris after the riot. Getty

Mr da Silva has called for peace after what he described as a coup attempt. Getty

Damage to the Brazilian National Congress caused by the riot. Getty

Agents inspect a room inside Planalto Palace, the office of the President. AP

Photos of former Brazilian presidents lay scattered on the floor of the lobby of Planalto Palace. AP

Supporters of Brazil's former president Jair Bolsonaro demonstrate against President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Brasilia. Protesters pushed through police barricades and stormed into the Congress, presidential palace and Supreme Court buildings on Sunday. Reuters

Bolsonaro supporters are detained. Reuters

The security forces take action as supporters of Jair Bolsonaro demonstrate outside Brazil’s National Congress building in Brasilia. Reuters

Brazil's Supreme Court building was one of those attacked. AFP

President Lula da Silva in the presidential palace after it was stormed by supporters of Jair Bolsonaro. AP

Supporters of Jair Bolsonaro invading several governmental building are confronted by the security forces in Brasilia. AFP

Members of the security forces confront Bolsonaro supporters. AFP

The scenes were reminiscent of the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol building by supporters of then-president Donald Trump, an ally of Mr Bolsonaro. Reuters

The security forces make arrests. AFP

A supporter of Jair Bolsonaro inside the presidential palace. Reuters

Hundreds of Bolsonaro backers have refused to accept leftist Mr da Silva's election victory. Reuters

Some of the demonstrators ransacked offices and smashed windows. Reuters

Police confront supporters of Jair Bolsonaro invading the presidential palace. EPA

Some Bolsonao supporters ransacked offices and caused damage. Reuters

A police vehicle crashes into a fountain as Bolsonaro supporters invade the National Congress building. AFP

Startling images on social media showed a tide of people storming the national Congress, many waving Brazilian flags. AFP

US and Brazilian politicians are looking for ways to co-operate on an investigation into violent protests in Brasilia this weekend, sharing lessons from inquiries into the attack on the US Capitol, sources said.

The initial discussions occurred as more than 70 legislators in the two countries signed a joint statement denouncing “anti-democratic” forces trying to overturn recent elections with political violence.

Supporters of former president Jair Bolsonaro ransacked Brazil's Congress, Supreme Court and presidential palace on Sunday, calling for a military coup to overturn the October election won by Luiz Inacio “Lula” da Silva, who took office on January 1.

The office of US Representative Bennie Thompson, chairman of the recently dissolved House committee that investigated the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol, is discussing collaboration, one of the sources said.

“I am extremely proud of the January 6 Select Committee's work and final report. If [it] serves as a model for similar investigations, I will help out in any way possible,” Mr Thompson said.

Brazil's Senate President Rodrigo Pacheco has also discussed the idea of an exchange with the top US diplomat in Brasilia, said another source.

The source, who is close to Mr Pacheco, said the US embassy's charge d'affaires, Douglas Koneff, was receptive to the idea of sharing knowledge from the investigation of then-president Donald Trump's supporters who attacked the Capitol in a failed attempt to stop Congress from certifying Joe Biden's election win.

Mr Pacheco's office and the US Embassy in Brasilia did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday that Washington had not received any specific requests from Brazil regarding the violence in Brasilia, but it would respond “expeditiously” if and when a request arrives.

Separately, a group of 74 federal lawmakers in the US and Brazil released a joint statement on Wednesday condemning the political violence in Brasilia and Washington that came two years and two days apart.

The statement, signed mainly by progressive politicians in both countries, was articulated by the Washington Brazil Office, a group promoting bilateral dialogue in defence of human rights and sustainable development.

“It is no secret that ultra-right agitators in Brazil and the US are co-ordinating efforts,” they wrote, citing ties between associates of Mr Trump and Mr Bolsonaro. “Just as far right extremists are co-ordinating their efforts to undermine democracy, we must stand united in our efforts to protect it.”

The January 6 committee's final report, released last month, said Mr Trump should face criminal charges for inciting the deadly riot.

The report listed 17 specific findings, discussed the legal implications of actions by the former president and some of his associates, and included criminal referrals of Mr Trump and other individuals to the Justice Department.