BRASÍLIA (AFP) – One of Brazil’s top national security officials resigned on Wednesday after the disclosure of videos of him at the scene of the January 8 attacks on the capital Brasilia.
Head of the Institutional Security Bureau (GSI) General Marco Edson Goncalves Dias submitted his resignation after CNN Brasil broadcast images from security cameras showing Goncalves Dias at the Planalto Palace, one of the federal buildings ransacked by protesters earlier this year.
In the clips released by CNN Brasil, Goncalves Dias is seen moving through the corridors of the building home to the official office of the president interacting with protesters and apparently “showing them the exit”.
Videos also showed at least two GSI officials shaking hands and giving water bottles to the protesters, who stormed federal buildings. Goncalves Dias disputed CNN Brasil’s interpretation of the videos.
“I entered the palace after it was raided and was removing people from the third and fourth floors so that the arrests could take place on the second floor,” he told the GloboNews television channel.
He said the videos of the soldiers distributing water were taken out of context.
In the aftermath of the attack, members of the military have been investigated for the handling of security in Brasilia on January 8, and some have been arrested.
Ahead of the October 30 election, the ex-president trotted out what experts said were baseless claims of election fraud, but has denied involvement in the planning of the attacks.
