Brazil top court rules out immediate arrest of Bolsonaro for violating social media ban
But the court warned the 70-year-old would be imprisoned immediately if he violated restrictions, including a ban on using social media that was imposed last week.
The far-right politician is on trial for allegedly plotting a coup to cling to power after losing the 2022 election to leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
On Friday the court slapped restrictions on Bolsonaro amid suspicion he was trying to disrupt the trial. He is now forced to wear an electronic ankle bracelet and cannot use social media. And third parties are not allowed to retransmit his public remarks.
But Judge Alexandre de Moraes considered it an "isolated irregularity" that social media accounts of one of Bolsonaro's sons, Eduardo Bolsonaro, "were used in his favor."
Bolsonaro made a speech Monday that went viral on social media, but he did not post the speech from his own account -- his sons and allies did.
Moraes -- with whom Bolsonaro has clashed often -- cited posts from accounts on X, Instagram and Facebook with videos, images and text from Bolsonaro's speech.
According to Moraes, the former president "delivered a speech to be shown on digital platforms."
The former president appeared before the cameras this week to show the ankle monitor on his left foot.
"This is a symbol of the utmost humiliation," he said.
"What matters to me is God's law," he added, rejecting the court's rulings.
The Trump factor
US President Donald Trump, who counts Bolsonaro among his allies, has waded into the trial, accusing the Brazilian authorities of conducting a witch hunt.
His administration has imposed visa restrictions on Moraes over his conduct in the case, and announced 50 percent tariffs on Brazilian imports unless the charges are dropped.
Eduardo Bolsonaro stepped down from his position as a congressman in March and moved to the United States, where he is campaigning for the Trump administration to intercede on his father's behalf.
Writing on X, Eduardo Bolsonaro said the new warning from Moraes was "a clumsy and desperate effort to censor me using my father as a hostage."
"You are a cowardly tyrant, Alexandre. A washed up coward," he added.
Moraes believes Bolsonaro and his son seek to "subject the functioning of the Supreme Court (of Brazil) to the control of the United States."
Among the restrictions imposed on Bolsonaro is an order not to approach embassies or the governments of other countries.
He must also remain at home at night and on weekends, although he denied any plans to flee Brazil.
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