March 29, 2021— Patricia Campos, a columnist, and correspondent for Brazillian daily newspaper Folha de S. Paulo, won her libel case against President Jair Bolsonaro. In February 2020,  the President insinuated that Patricia used sex to uncover unfavorable information about him. The judge said in his verdict of March 16 that the allegations damaged the journalist’s integrity. President Bolsonaro was ordered to pay $3500 in compensation to Patricia Campos. The journalist won a similar case on February 18, 2021, against the son of President Bolsonaro, Eduardo Bolsonaro. CFWIJ welcomes the court’s decision and hopes this will set a precedent for people who intimidate journalists and tarnish their reputation. 

Patricia Campos was slandered for writing a series of investigative revelations about how a group supporting Bolsonaro used WhatsApp to spread disinformation. The journalist believed the propaganda was part of the President’s campaign ahead of the 2018 elections. President Bolsonaro has a history of undermining journalists for their critical view of his politics. As quoted by Folha newspaper, he said, “Patrica wanted a scoop at any price against me”. Patricia filed legal action against the comments and won her libel case on March 16. In his verdict, the judge mentioned that the insulting remarks from the President caused damage to the journalist’s reputation. Patricia tweeted about the win and described the verdict as “a victory for all of us women.”

The journalist won a similar case against the President’s son and lawmaker Eduardo Bolsonaro on February 18, 2021. Eduardo had also accused Patricia of seducing a source to acquire damning information about his father in a now-deleted YouTube video in May 2020. Patricia won the case, and Eduardo was ordered to pay damages amounting to $5600 for defaming the journalist. 

The Coalition For Women In Journalism welcomes the decision and hopes it will set an example for Bolsonaro and his administration. We congratulate Patricia for fighting fearlessly to defend her reputation and persisting against the abuse of power.