ORLANDO, Fla. — Hundreds of rioters broke through glass, fought police, and trashed government buildings in Brazil’s capital Sunday after allegations from former President Jair Bolsonaro that the election he lost was not legit. 

Andrew Janusz, an assistant professor at the University of Florida whose research and teaching centers on Latin-American politics, said he believes the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol two years ago influenced what happened in Brazil over the weekend. 

Rioters broke into and vandalized Brazil's main legislative buildings, Supreme Court and presidential palace.

“I think absolutely it had an influence — even if you look at the way people dressed,” said Janusz.

He said the violence in Brazil’s capital might have been shocking, but those who carried it out acted after years of rhetoric by Bolsonaro.

“Before he left Brazil for Orlando, the president called on these supporters not to give up,” said Janusz.

During the insurrection, Bolsonaro was being treated at an Orlando hospital for abdominal issues, stemming from complications when he was stabbed at a campaign event in 2018, according to a social media post from his wife. 

Bolsonaro has been in Central Florida since the end of his term in December. The professor said it is unlikely U.S. leaders will be able to force Bolsonaro to leave Central Florida. He said he believes that although investigations into Bolsonaro’s involvement are underway, it will be difficult to prove he acted criminally.

“I think Bolsonaro has really stoked this anti-government, anti-institutional sentiment,” said Janusz. “Whether or not he had some hand in organizing these protests and this insurrection remains to be seen.”

A resort security patrol car drives past the home where former Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro has been staying, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023, in Reunion, Fla. As Brazil reels from mobs of rioters swarming its seats of power, its former leader has decamped to a Florida resort, where droves of supporters have flocked to cheer on their ousted president.(AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Janusz says Brazil is a democracy, with a federal government set up not exactly, but similar, to the United States'. He said it was a close, but fair, election.

“Whether or not these elections were corrupt, I don’t think there’s any truth to that,” said Janusz. “All evidence suggests that these were free and fair elections, and that Bolsonaro lost.”

While Bolsonaro has denounced the violence, Janusz said he certainly didn’t hold back on stoking anti-government sentiments among his supporters before he left the country.

“He called into question the validity of these elections and made this claim repeatedly, with no proof that these elections would be rigged against him. And his supporters have seized on these messages and this misinformation,” said Janusz.

The Vice Consulate of Brasil in Orlando, which opened in June 2022, released a statement saying, in part, the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs appreciates support from the international community, and described what happened in Brazil’s capital Sunday as “coup-mongering violence.”