Civilian elections did take place in 1990 (Haitian general election, 1990–1991), in which Jean-Bertrand Aristide was elected, but the 1991 Haitian coup d'état, in which Chamblain was involved, overthrew Aristide just eight months later. Immediately following the coup, Chamblain's reputation for brutality grew further as he is reported to have been responsible for thousands of murders of Aristide followers.