Gettr CEO and former Trump spokesman Jason Miller is DETAINED in Brazil and questioned for three hours for 'anti-democratic activities' after meeting president Jair Bolsonaro

  • Former Trump aide Jason Miller said he was questioned for three hours as his party tried to leave Brazil on Tuesday
  • 'We were not accused of any wrongdoing,' he said, adding that they were eventually released to return to the US 
  • He was in the country to speak at a conservative conference hosted by CPAC-Brazil
  • He also sees Brazil as a growth market for Gettr, his social media platform
  • But the country is on a knife-edge as President Jair Bolsonaro's rivals accusing him of plotting a coup

By Rob Crilly, Senior U.S. Political Reporter For Dailymail.Com

Published: | Updated:

Former Trump aide Jason Miller said he was questioned for three hours in Brazil on Tuesday as he left the country after speaking at a conservative conference and meeting President Jair Bolsonaro.

Local media reported that he was detained as he prepared to board a private jet at Brasília International Airport and was questioned by federal police as part of an investigation into the organization of anti-democratic acts.

The country is poised for turbulence ahead of elections next year, with Bolsonaro's enemies claiming he is plotting a coup to hang on to power. 

Miller said he was not accused of any wrongdoing and allowed on his way. 

'This afternoon my traveling party was questioned for three hours at the airport in Brasilia, after having attended this weekend’s CPAC Brasil Conference,' he said in a statement.

'We were not accused of any wrongdoing, and told only that they "wanted to talk." 

'We informed them that we had nothing to say and were eventually released to fly back to the United States. 

'Our goal of sharing free speech around the world continues.'

Ex-Trump adviser Jason Miller with Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro and his son Eduardo. Miller said he was questioned for three hours as he tried to fly out of Brazil on Tuesday

Ex-Trump adviser Jason Miller with Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro and his son Eduardo. Miller said he was questioned for three hours as he tried to fly out of Brazil on Tuesday

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro could be preparing a military coup in Brazil, his enemies have warned, as the leader called for huge rallies of his supporters in an attempt to fire up his far-right base

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro could be preparing a military coup in Brazil, his enemies have warned, as the leader called for huge rallies of his supporters in an attempt to fire up his far-right base

Thousands of people rallied in support of President Jair Bolsonaro in Sao Paolo, Brazil, on Tuesday as the country prepares for elections next year

Thousands of people rallied in support of President Jair Bolsonaro in Sao Paolo, Brazil, on Tuesday as the country prepares for elections next year

Brazilian news outlet Metrópoles said Miller was questioned under investigation 4874, which is probing anti-democratic acts in Brazil. The order came from Justice Alexandre de Moraes of the Supreme Court.   

Miller traveled to Brazil as part of his work to promote Gettr, a new social network which is aimed at conservatives. 

Before leaving, he told DailyMail.com that he would be meeting prominent politicians in the country to encourage them to join the platform. 

'The fact that we currently have over a quarter of a million Brazilians signed up is not insignificant,' he said.

'We think this is a massive growth market for us, especially with elections in 2022.

' With all that energy and activity we think it's a perfect place for us to step into and grow even more.   

But the election has put the country on edge, particularly as Bolsonaro trails in polls to leftist former leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

In a statement, Miller said he was not accused of wrongdoing and was allowed to continue on his way after three hours

In a statement, Miller said he was not accused of wrongdoing and was allowed to continue on his way after three hours

His enemies allege he is planning to hang on to power any way that he can. 

Tuesday was expected to bring a taste of things to come, with both sides holding mass demonstrations in some of the biggest cities. 

He got a boisterous reception from tens of thousands of people who gathered in the capital Brasilia for a huge show of support back in his battle with the Supreme Court.

Last week he told supporters: 'The time has come to declare our independence for good, to say we will not allow some people in Brasilia to impose their will on us.

'The will that matters is yours.'

'Some people in Brasilia' was widely read as a reference to the Supreme Court, which has ordered a series of investigations into Bolsonaro and his inner circle, notably over allegations of systematically spreading fake news from within the government. 

Bolsonaro has responded by declaring all-out political war on justices he perceives as hostile. 

He has signaled that the judges should consider Tuesday's rallies an 'ultimatum' - the latest in a long list of ominous warnings aimed at Congress and the courts. 

Brazil

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