Torres' US Trip Before Brazil Riots: 'Not a Coincidence,' Says Former Minister

Brazil's former Justice Minister, Anderson Torres, recently testified before the Supreme Federal Court (STF) regarding his trip to the United States in the days leading up to the January 8th, 2023, anti-democratic riots in Brasilia. Torres stated unequivocally that his trip was not a coincidence, but rather a pre-planned family vacation that had been postponed from July 2022 due to his heavy workload. "I had promised my daughters this trip," Torres said during his testimony. Despite holding the position of Secretary of Public Security for the Federal District at the time of the events, Torres was in the United States on vacation when the riots took place. His testimony sheds light on the planning and timing of his trip, providing crucial context to the ongoing investigation into the events of January 8th. This planned trip, booked on November 21st, 2022, long before any significant violent demonstrations in Brasilia, underscores Torres' claim that his absence was not related to the subsequent events.