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Former President of Brazil Required to Wear Electronic Ankle Monitor
This action follows federal police conducting searches at both his residence and the headquarters of his political party in Brasília, adhering to a directive from the Supreme Court.
As part of the restrictions placed upon him, Mr. Bolsonaro is prohibited from leaving his home during nighttime hours, engaging with foreign diplomats or ambassadors, and approaching embassies. Additionally, he is barred from utilizing social media and from contacting various individuals under investigation by the Supreme Federal Court, including his son, Eduardo Bolsonaro, who resides in the United States and is noted for his close connections with former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Currently, Mr. Bolsonaro is facing trial in the Supreme Court, accused of leading an alleged effort to challenge the results of the 2022 elections, which resulted in the victory of left-wing candidate Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
In a statement to reporters in Brasília after donning the ankle monitor, Mr. Bolsonaro remarked, “It is a profound humiliation. I never contemplated leaving Brazil or seeking refuge in an embassy, yet these precautionary measures have been taken for that reason.”
Recently, former President Trump reached out to Mr. Bolsonaro to express his concern about the treatment his ally is receiving from the Brazilian legal system, labeling it as unfortunate and unjust. He stated, “This trial should conclude immediately,” and indicated that he has communicated his discontent through his tariff policies.
The Supreme Court’s measures against Mr. Bolsonaro are part of a subsequent investigation concerning Eduardo for allegedly collaborating with U.S. officials to impose sanctions on Brazilian authorities. Justice Alexandre de Moraes, the case’s rapporteur, highlighted recent actions by the former president and his son as significant indications of potential criminal conduct, including coercion in legal contexts, obstruction of justice, and challenges to national sovereignty.
Aerial coverage by local media showcased federal police vehicles stationed outside Mr. Bolsonaro’s home in Brasília. Congressman Sostenes Cavalcante, leader of Mr. Bolsonaro’s party in the lower house, described the operation as “another instance in the ongoing scrutiny of conservative and right-wing figures” in Brazil.
On Tuesday, Brazil’s prosecutor-general, Paulo Gonet, presented a report to the Supreme Court asserting that “the evidence is compelling: the defendant acted in a systematic manner during his tenure and following his electoral defeat to incite insurrection and disrupt the democratic rule of law.”
Mr. Bolsonaro has referred to the trial on social media as a “witch hunt,” a phrase echoed by Mr. Trump in defense of his South American counterpart last week. Furthermore, Mr. Trump recently imposed a 50% import tax on Brazil, explicitly linking the tariffs to the ongoing trial of Mr. Bolsonaro.
During their respective presidencies in 2020, Mr. Trump hosted Mr. Bolsonaro at his Mar-a-Lago resort. Mr. Trump has drawn parallels between the challenges faced by the former Brazilian president and his own situation. In a press briefing at the White House on Tuesday, he reiterated his belief that the trial constitutes a “witch hunt.”
