Brazil’s lower house of Congress passed a bill that could reduce former President Jair Bolsonaro’s 27-year prison sentence for attempting a coup, along with sentences for over 1,000 others involved in the January 8, 2023, attacks on government buildings.

The vote sparked chaos, with a left-wing congressman protesting, a physical altercation involving police and journalists, and live coverage temporarily cut.

Opponents criticized the bill as undermining democracy and condemned the aggressive removal of the protesting lawmaker, Al-Jazeera has reported.

Bolsonaro, convicted on multiple charges for seeking to overturn the 2022 election, remains in federal custody, while his son Flavio Bolsonaro has indicated he may leverage the bill to benefit his father’s freedom.

The Senate is expected to vote on the legislation next week.