On Friday morning, Brazilian Federal Police conducted a raid at the residence of former President Jair Bolsonaro, following a directive from Attorney General Alexandre de Moraes. Bolsonaro is now required to wear an electronic ankle monitor.
This operation is part of several restrictions placed on Bolsonaro by de Moraes, who has taken a firm stance against what he calls an “anti-fake news crusade.” He is also overseeing a “coup” trial related to Bolsonaro. Alongside the monitoring device, Bolsonaro has been barred from using social media or communicating with his son, Eduardo, who sought political asylum in the United States this year. The police were also targeting the headquarters of Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party (PL).
De Moraes justified the police action by accusing Bolsonaro of trying to “extort” Brazil’s judiciary for a “pardon” in exchange for lifting U.S. tariffs against Brazil. Recently, President Trump proposed a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods, citing a “witch hunt” as one reason for these measures against Bolsonaro, especially in light of actions taken by the left-leaning President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva.
The new orders include a daily curfew for Bolsonaro, forcing him to stay home from 7 PM to 7 AM during weekdays and all weekend. Besides banning communication with his son, de Moraes has also prohibited Bolsonaro from contacting foreign diplomats and other individuals involved in the STF investigation, as well as restricting him from approaching foreign embassies in Brazil.
During the police operation, authorities reportedly seized nearly $14,000 from Bolsonaro’s home. A video captured by a Brazilian outlet shows a police vehicle departing from his residence while supporters, chanting “Commander, President,” gathered outside.
Bolsonaro’s legal team expressed outrage over these new restrictions, indicating they were taken aback by the severity of the measures. They mentioned plans to release a formal statement after reviewing the situation.
He has been accused by the Supreme Federal Court (STF) of conspiring with numerous others to take unlawful actions against Lula, attempting a “coup” to overturn the 2022 election results. Bolsonaro has firmly denied these claims and maintains his innocence. Since February 2024, he has been all but trapped in Brazil due to a federal police order to confiscate his passport.
According to reports, the ankle monitor and other restrictions on Bolsonaro can be likened to a “semi-open” residential arrest, aimed at preventing potential flight attempts.
In a recent interview, Bolsonaro stated he has no plans to leave Brazil or seek political asylum, unlike his son.
After being fitted with the ankle monitor, he expressed feelings of “humiliation” and ascribed the measures against him to political motivations.
These new actions from de Moraes came shortly after prosecutors in São Paulo called for stricter measures against Bolsonaro due to his ongoing “coup” trial. If found guilty of all charges, he could be sentenced to as much as 43 years in prison. Bolsonaro’s defense team has about two weeks to present their final arguments.
The police raid occurred just hours after President Trump shared a letter of support for Bolsonaro on his platform, showcasing continued ties amidst the political turmoil.
This recent raid is part of a broader series of actions against Bolsonaro, which has included previous raids and restrictions affecting his family and conservative supporters. Eduardo Bolsonaro’s communications have also been limited, which prevents him from discussing matters with another son, Carlos, who is currently under investigation by the STF.
