Senator-elect Damares Alves (Republicanos-DF), former Minister of Women, Family and Human Rights in the government of Jair Bolsonaro, has already had as advisors at least four people investigated for crimes related to attacks on institutions, participation in terrorist acts and disclosure of fake news.
The hires were made at the beginning of Damares’ management, who remained in office from January 2019 to April 2022. One of the most radical members of Bolsonaro’s ministerial team, her management was marked by the extinction of human rights policies and persecution minorities, such as women and indigenous peoples.
Wellington Macedo: bomb at airport
Arrested on January 16 for trying to explode a bomb near Brasília airport, Wellington Macedo acted as an advisor to the National Secretariat for the Rights of Children and Adolescents of the Ministry of Women, Family and Human Rights. Appointed by Damares, Macedo was in charge between February and October 2019.
Macedo was arrested by Alexandre de Moraes for encouraging anti-democratic acts on September 7, 2021. Since then, he has served house arrest and used an electronic anklet. Even so, he attended the Bolsonarist camp.
After the arrest warrant, Damares published a note on the subject. “I clarify that Mr. Wellington Macedo, investigated in the case of an attempted violent act in Brasília-DF, provided services at the Ministry of Women, Family and Human Rights between January and October 2019, when he was exonerated from his position,” he wrote. .
“The aforementioned journalist was not my direct advisor. He worked in the communication area of the National Secretariat for the Rights of Children and Adolescents, which even operated in a different building than the Ministerial Office”, he declared.
Damares Alves and Wellington Macedo: former colleagues at the Ministry of Women, Family and Human Rights / Reproduction/Instagram
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Renan Sena: terrorist acts of January 8
Arrested on January 20 in Operation Lesa Pátria on suspicion of coordinating and financing the terrorist acts on January 8, Renan Sena worked as a project analyst for the socio-educational sector of the Ministry of Women, Family and Human Rights, as an outsourced employee.
Renan Sena’s contract was signed through G4F Soluções Corporativas Ltda. In May 2020, he was fired after being indicted for insulting and assaulting nurses during an act performed by health professionals in memory of the victims of covid-19. He was filmed swearing at nurses and pushing one of them.
At the time, Damares also tried to get away from Renan Sena. In a statement, the ministry stated that he was no longer on the staff and that he would support the investigations.
Sara Winter: threat to STF ministers
Arrested in June 2020 for threats to ministers of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), Sara Winter served as head of the General Coordination of Integral Attention to Pregnant Women and Maternity from April to December 2019. The extremist held a position of trust with a salary of R $5,685 and was linked to the National Secretariat for Policies for Women, headed by Damares Alves.
Sara Winter was even arrested as part of an inquiry that investigates attacks on the STF made by the “300 for Brazil” movement, which promoted a camp and interventions against the Supreme Court. In June, Minister Alexandre de Moraes, the same person who authorized the arrest, ordered the release of the investigated woman, using an electronic anklet.
Damares also had to explain herself about the relationship with the former commander: “The former civil servant Sara Giromini, when indicted, no longer belonged to the MMFDH’s staff. (…) All members of this Ministry are calm to provide any information necessary for the facts to be elucidated”, he said, in a note published in 2020.
Damares Alves and Sara Winter: former partners in the Ministry of Women, Family and Human Rights / Reproduction
Sandra and Oswaldo Eustáquio: fake news and anti-democratic acts
Imprisoned twice for attacks on democracy, blogger Oswaldo Eustáquio was an advisor to Damares during the transition of government. With Bolsonaro already in power, he placed his wife, Sandra Terena Eustáquio, as secretary of Racial Equality, one of the most important of the former ministry headed by Damares – in the Lula government, the body was remodeled and the Women and Racial Equality portfolios gained specific ministries .
Before his wife’s resignation, in September 2020, Oswaldo Eustáquio had already been arrested and investigated in the STF inquiry that investigates the financing of anti-democratic acts in Brasilia and possible links with authorities and parliamentarians. Surprised by the decision, Sandra Terena complained in a radio interview Young pan that she was “being exonerated for being married to a person who defends President Bolsonaro”.
When questioned for the first time about the couple’s performance, Damares said she was unaware of any investigation against Sandra Terena Eustáquio, who was the only one effectively hired by her ministry.
Sandra Terena, Damares Alves and Oswaldo Eustáquio: longtime friendship / Reproduction
Other side
O Brazil in fact could not locate contacts of the press office of Damares Alves. As the elected senator has not yet taken office in her new position, there are no telephone numbers or institutional e-mail addresses through which her team can be contacted. The space remains open for demonstrations.
Editing: Rodrigo Durão Coelho
