Brazil’s Supreme Court Puts Bolsonaro Under House Arrest Over Coup Probe Violations
In a major legal blow, Brazil’s Supreme Court has ordered former President Jair Bolsonaro to stay under house arrest. This decision came after he violated court-imposed restrictions tied to an ongoing probe into an alleged coup plot.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes announced on Monday that Bolsonaro had “broken a ban on using social media,” which had been imposed just last month. The court had also instructed him to wear an electronic ankle monitor during this time.
Moraes explained that Bolsonaro used his allies’ social media accounts to post messages that encouraged protests, criticized the Supreme Court, and called for foreign intervention in Brazil’s judiciary. These posts appeared on Sunday, during nationwide demonstrations in support of Bolsonaro.
“There is no doubt,” Moraes wrote, “the conditions of the precautionary measures were violated.”
As per the new ruling, Bolsonaro must remain inside a private mansion he rents in a gated neighborhood in southern Brasília. The court said only close family members and legal representatives may visit, but even they are banned from using mobile phones, taking photos, or recording videos inside the property.
Federal police have been told to seize all mobile devices present at the residence.
Moraes also cited a recent rally on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, where Bolsonaro spoke to his supporters via phone. His son, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, held the phone near a microphone so the crowd could hear.
Although Flávio later deleted the video of the speech from social media, Moraes criticized this move as “a blatant attempt to hide the violation of court orders.” He added that “the breach was so obvious that even the defendant’s son felt compelled to erase the evidence from Instagram.”
The house arrest is part of a larger investigation where Bolsonaro is accused of trying to overturn the 2022 election results. He had lost that election to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
If convicted, Bolsonaro could face a prison sentence of over 40 years. The trial is expected to conclude later this year.
Speaking on GloboNews, political analyst Fernando Gabeira said the court appears to be taking a careful approach to Bolsonaro’s arrest. “Bolsonaro is being arrested in stages,” Gabeira noted, adding that “the Supreme Court seems to be guiding him to prison gradually – perhaps to avoid a major public backlash.”
On Sunday, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters gathered outside Brazil’s Central Bank in Brasília. Many waved signs supporting the ex-president and even called on Donald Trump for help.
One demonstrator, Álvaro Junior, held a sign that read “Thank you, Trump” and told reporters, “I’d like to give Trump a hug and thank him for caring about us.”
Recently, the United States imposed 50% tariffs on Brazilian goods. Trump defended the move by saying it was in response to the “witch hunt” against Bolsonaro. The decision was welcomed by Bolsonaro’s supporters.
A protester wearing a red Make America Great Again cap said, “We now feel even more admiration and love for the American people.”
Authorities have installed metal barricades around sensitive locations, including the Supreme Court, Congress, and the Foreign Ministry, expecting more right-wing protests.
Tensions worsened last week when the Trump administration placed sanctions on Justice Moraes. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused Moraes of leading what he called a campaign of “censorship, arbitrary arrests, and political prosecutions, including against Bolsonaro.”
In his ruling, Moraes said Bolsonaro continues to break the law more boldly, accusing him of attempting to involve a foreign leader to pressure Brazil’s judiciary. Moraes called this a “clear violation of national sovereignty.”
