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Brazil's former president Bolsonaro ordered to wear an electronic ankle monitor

Brazil's former president Bolsonaro ordered to wear an electronic ankle monitor

Al Arabiya21 hours ago
Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro has been ordered to wear an ankle monitor, his press office said on Friday. The development came as federal police conducted searches at his home and his party's headquarters in Brasilia, according to people familiar with the court order. Local media reported that Bolsonaro is also barred from using social media or contacting other individuals under investigation by the Supreme Federal Court, including his son Eduardo Bolsonaro, a Brazilian lawmaker who currently lives in the United States and is known for his close ties to US President Donald Trump.
A police statement said that officers in Brasilia carried out two search and seizure warrants in addition to precautionary measures other than arrest in compliance with a decision by the Supreme Court. The statement did not name Bolsonaro.
Bolsonaro is currently on trial at the Supreme Court accused of leading an alleged attempt to stage a coup to overturn the 2022 election in which he was defeated by left-wing president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Live aerial footage from local broadcasters showed federal police vehicles outside Bolsonaro's residence in Brasília. Congressman Sostenes Cavalcante, the leader of Bolsonaro's party in the lower house, told The Associated Press that officers also searched Bolsonaro's office at the party's headquarters. He described the operation as 'another chapter in the persecution of conservatives and right-wing figures in Brazil.' A lawyer for Bolsonaro did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
On Tuesday, Brazil's Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet said in a report to the Supreme Court that 'the evidence is clear: the defendant acted systematically throughout his mandate and after his defeat at the polls to incite insurrection and the destabilization of the democratic rule of law.' Bolsonaro has described the trial on X as a 'witch hunt,' echoing a term used by Trump when he came to his South American ally's defense last week.
Last week, Trump imposed a 50 percent import tax on Brazil, directly tying the tariffs to Bolsonaro's trial. The US president has hosted the former Brazilian president at his Mar-a-Lago resort when both were in power in 2020. Trump compared the Brazilian's situation to his own. On Tuesday, speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump repeated the claim that the trial is a 'witch hunt.'
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Brazil's former president Bolsonaro ordered to wear an electronic ankle monitor
Brazil's former president Bolsonaro ordered to wear an electronic ankle monitor

Al Arabiya

time21 hours ago

  • Al Arabiya

Brazil's former president Bolsonaro ordered to wear an electronic ankle monitor

Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro has been ordered to wear an ankle monitor, his press office said on Friday. The development came as federal police conducted searches at his home and his party's headquarters in Brasilia, according to people familiar with the court order. Local media reported that Bolsonaro is also barred from using social media or contacting other individuals under investigation by the Supreme Federal Court, including his son Eduardo Bolsonaro, a Brazilian lawmaker who currently lives in the United States and is known for his close ties to US President Donald Trump. A police statement said that officers in Brasilia carried out two search and seizure warrants in addition to precautionary measures other than arrest in compliance with a decision by the Supreme Court. The statement did not name Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro is currently on trial at the Supreme Court accused of leading an alleged attempt to stage a coup to overturn the 2022 election in which he was defeated by left-wing president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Live aerial footage from local broadcasters showed federal police vehicles outside Bolsonaro's residence in Brasília. Congressman Sostenes Cavalcante, the leader of Bolsonaro's party in the lower house, told The Associated Press that officers also searched Bolsonaro's office at the party's headquarters. He described the operation as 'another chapter in the persecution of conservatives and right-wing figures in Brazil.' A lawyer for Bolsonaro did not immediately respond to a request for comment. On Tuesday, Brazil's Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet said in a report to the Supreme Court that 'the evidence is clear: the defendant acted systematically throughout his mandate and after his defeat at the polls to incite insurrection and the destabilization of the democratic rule of law.' Bolsonaro has described the trial on X as a 'witch hunt,' echoing a term used by Trump when he came to his South American ally's defense last week. Last week, Trump imposed a 50 percent import tax on Brazil, directly tying the tariffs to Bolsonaro's trial. The US president has hosted the former Brazilian president at his Mar-a-Lago resort when both were in power in 2020. Trump compared the Brazilian's situation to his own. On Tuesday, speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump repeated the claim that the trial is a 'witch hunt.'

Rubio: US revokes visa for Brazil judge over Bolsonaro ‘witch hunt'
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Al Arabiya

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The United States on Friday revoked a visa for a prominent Brazilian judge hours after he restricted activities of right-wing former president Jair Bolsonaro over charges of plotting a coup. 'Brazilian Supreme Federal Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes's political witch hunt against Jair Bolsonaro created a persecution and censorship complex so sweeping that it not only violates basic rights of Brazilians, but also extends beyond Brazil's shores to target Americans,' Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement. Rubio said the visa restrictions would also apply to judges who side with Moraes on the court, as well as the justices' immediate family members. Moraes has long sparred with Bolsonaro, an ally of US President Donald Trump. Both Trump and Bolsonaro have claimed to be victims of political persecution, and the former frequently verbally attacks judges at home over their rulings. Bolsonaro is accused of plotting a coup reminiscent of the January 6, 2021 riot at the US Capitol by Trump's supporters after his election loss to President Joe Biden. Rubio's order came as Moraes ordered the ex-president to wear an electronic ankle bracelet, not leave his home at night, or use social media. Trump has already announced a 50 percent tariff on Brazil, Latin America's largest economy, to pressure the country now led by leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

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