In a stunning revelation, a Brazilian hacker named Walter Delgatti Neto testified before a Congressional inquiry on Thursday, claiming that former President Jair Bolsonaro had approached him to hack into voting machines. The purpose of this alleged hacking would be to expose the “fragility” of the voting machines and potentially manipulate election results. Delgatti also claimed that Bolsonaro offered him a pardon if he faced any legal consequences for his actions.
During his testimony to the Joint Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPMI), Delgatti described a meeting with Bolsonaro in August 2022 where the former president made promises of legal protection. Delgatti stated that Bolsonaro assured him that if he were arrested, the judge responsible for the case would also be arrested. Moreover, Bolsonaro allegedly promised to grant Delgatti a pardon if his arrest was related to actions involving the electronic voting machines.
The plan, as described by Delgatti, was to create a fake code for the voting machines that would redirect votes from one candidate to another. However, the plan could not be executed because the source code for the Brazilian electoral system is stored in a vault room that lacks internet access, making it impossible for Delgatti to access it.
Walter Delgatti Neto was recently detained by the Federal Police for breaking into the judiciary system. His involvement in various hacking activities has raised concerns about the security of Brazil’s electoral process, prompting the establishment of the Congressional inquiry.
Bolsonaro’s defense team responded to the allegations made by Delgatti, vehemently denying any involvement in wiretapping or illegal activities. Bolsonaro’s defense lawyer, Fabio Wajngarten, emphasized that there has never been any wiretapping or non-republican activity against any political entity in Brazil by the president’s inner circle.
Wajngarten went on to challenge Delgatti’s credibility, particularly regarding his claim of having a lengthy meeting with Bolsonaro. He asserted that he doubts anyone had an individual meeting with the president that lasted an hour and a half, accusing Delgatti of lying.
These allegations come in the wake of the highest electoral court in Brazil barring Bolsonaro from running for political office until 2030. The court found him guilty of abusing his power and misusing public media during the previous year’s election campaign. Bolsonaro has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Since leaving office, Bolsonaro has faced several legal challenges, with multiple cases being brought against him. The establishment of the CPMI was a direct consequence of the January 8 riots, wherein protesters stormed Brazil’s Congress building, Supreme Court, and the presidential palace. These protests were triggered by discontent and allegations of election fraud, as they believed the election results unfairly favored current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The testimony provided by Walter Delgatti Neto adds another layer of controversy to the already tumultuous political landscape in Brazil. As the Congressional inquiry continues, it remains to be seen what impact these allegations will have on Bolsonaro’s political future and the public’s perception of the integrity of the electoral process.