Brazil police raid Bolsonaro\’s home, accuse him of launching a coup
Ex‑Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro Faces New Restrictions While Awaiting Verdict on Coup Charges
Brazilian federal police raided former President Jair Bolsonaro’s home on Friday, a raid reported by his son, congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro, who recently moved to the United States to lobby for his father.
Eduardo posted on X that the police conducted a “raid on my father’s home this morning.” He also criticized Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes, who on Friday ordered the ex‑president to wear an electronic ankle bracelet and prohibited him from leaving his residence at night.
Moraes, one of the judges handling Bolsonaro’s trial on alleged attempts to nullify left‑wing President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva’s 2022 election victory, said the measures were necessary because Bolsonaro and his son had committed “hostile acts” against Brazil.
Bolsonaro Touts Supreme Court “Humiliation” and Calls Judge a Political “Gangster”
In a letter signed as a “Brazilian congressman in exile,” Eduardo Bolsonaro wrote that Moraes had “long abandoned any semblance of impartiality and now operates as a political gangster in robes, using the Supreme Court as his personal weapon.”
Eduardo Bolsonaro also claimed that the judge was “trying to criminalize President Trump and the US government.” He added that being “past the US government, he chose to take my father hostage,” according to the letter.
Bolsonaro Lists Restrictions Imposed by Judge Moraes
Bolsonaro described the judge’s order as a “supreme humiliation.” The order also prohibited him from approaching foreign embassies or leaving his home between 7:00 pm and 6:00 am on weekends or public holidays.
During a visit to the justice secretariat offices in Brasília, Bolsonaro insisted that he had “never thought about leaving Brazil” or going to an embassy. The former army captain denies involvement in a coup attempt that prosecutors say failed due to a lack of military backing.
Bolsonaro’s Alleged Coup Plot and the 2023 Riots
After the failed plot, supporters known as “Bolsonaristas” raided government buildings in 2023, urging the military to oust Lula. Bolsonaro was abroad at the time.
The case against Bolsonaro echoes Trump’s failed prosecution over the January 6, 2021 attacks on the U.S. Capitol, and both men have claimed to be victims of political persecution. Trump has defended his ally, angering Lula, who labeled the tariff threat “unacceptable blackmail.”
Washington Investigates “Unfair Trading Practices” by Brazil
Washington also announced an investigation into “unfair trading practices” by Brazil, a move that could provide a legal basis for imposing tariffs on South America’s largest economy.
Trial Court’s Charges and Potential Sentence
On Tuesday, prosecutors asked the trial judges of the Supreme Court to find Bolsonaro guilty of “armed criminal association” and planning to “violently overthrow the democratic order.” The defense must still present its closing arguments before a five‑member panel of judges, including Moraes, decides the ex‑president’s fate.
Bolsonaro and seven co‑accused risk up to 40 years in prison. He has repeatedly stated his desire to run for president in the next election, but a court has ruled him ineligible to hold office after finding him guilty of spreading misinformation about Brazil’s electoral system. Moraes has repeatedly clashed with Bolsonaro and other right‑wing figures accused of spreading fake news. Last year, Moraes shut tech titan Elon Musk’s X network in Brazil for 40 days for failing to tackle the spread of disinformation shared mainly by Bolsonaro backers.
