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Bolsonaro placed under house arrest amid Brazil election overturn probe

Jair Bolsonaro

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On Monday, Brazil’s Supreme Court ordered former President Jair Bolsonaro to be placed under house arrest amid ongoing legal proceedings over his alleged attempt to overturn the 2022 presidential election results.

The case has gripped the nation since its inception in 2023 and has intensified international scrutiny, especially as it unfolds under the authority of a Supreme Court justice recently sanctioned by the Trump administration in the United States.

Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is overseeing the case, accused Bolsonaro, 70, of violating court-imposed restrictions.

According to the ruling, first reported by the Associated Press, Bolsonaro used a Sunday protest in Rio de Janeiro to publicly address supporters using a cellphone owned by one of his three sons, all of whom are lawmakers.

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Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro gestures during the inauguration ceremony of new ministers at the Planalto Palace in Brasilia, on March 31, 2022. – Bolsonaro on Thursday fired key ministers who will contest the October elections, including his possible running mate for defence, in a ceremony in which he praised the last military dictatorship. (Evaristo Sa/AFP via Getty Images)

Bolsonaro’s brief message, “Good afternoon, Copacabana, good afternoon my Brazil, a hug to everyone, this is for our freedom,” was deemed a violation of his release conditions.

Bolsonaro’s legal team announced plans to appeal, arguing that the statement was symbolic, not criminal, and did not justify additional restrictions.

Mounting International Fallout

The political stakes have now extended well beyond Brazil. The case triggered backlash from President Trump, a longtime Bolsonaro ally, who tied newly imposed U.S. tariffs on Brazilian imports to what he called an ongoing “witch hunt.” His remarks have further strained the already delicate diplomatic relationship between the two nations.

In a pointed statement on X, the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs condemned the Brazilian court’s actions, writing: “Putting even more restrictions on Jair Bolsonaro’s ability to defend himself in public is not a public service. Let Bolsonaro speak!”

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Trump and Moraes

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. President Donald Trump.  (Getty Images)

The bureau also warned that…

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