Brazil Former President Bolsonaro Denied Passport Return Ahead Of Trump’s Inauguration

The former president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, has had his wish to travel to the US for Donald Trump’s inauguration dealt a blow by a judge refusing him permission to retrieve his seized passport. Bolsonaro, whose administration has been under scrutiny over claims he masterminded a coup d’etat, has been at loggerheads with a judge since December.

In February 2024, federal police seized Bolsonaro’s passport as part of an investigation into a suspected conspiracy to undermine Brazil’s democracy, which has endured for more than four decades. The far-right politician, who led Brazil from 2019 to 2023, was among nearly 40 people formally accused in November of trying to derail the results of the 2022 election through a right-wing coup.

Bolsonaro had requested that the Brazilian Supreme Court allow him to leave for Washington, DC on 20th January to witness Trump’s inauguration ceremony. The lawyers of Bolsonaro claimed that he needed the passport for a six-day sojourn in the US to attend the ceremony since Trump was his most important foreign ally. Bolsonaro laughed to the New York Times saying that he was so excited to see Trump that he is no longer taking Viagra.

However, it was rejected. Judge Alexandre de Moraes said that the risk Bolsonaro posed for committing serious crimes was too great to permit the return of his passport because he could flee Brazil to avoid serving time for them.

The decision came a day after the federal police filed a report saying Bolsonaro played a key role in the alleged attempt to stage a coup, detailing plans to sway the military and even target politicians. Bolsonaro denies the allegations and will be barred until 2030 from running for office for spreading false information.

To be represented by his son Congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro in his stead, Bolsonaro declared. Congressman Eduardo has continued speaking up for his father with statements that proclaim him a political victim of lawsuits.