Former President Jair Bolsonaro was placed under house arrest Monday night by Supreme Federal Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes. This decision follows claims that Bolsonaro’s sons breached restrictions by sharing videos of him on social media.
Law enforcement authorities confiscated Bolsonaro’s mobile phone, which he was using to communicate. He is prohibited from using other devices, including those belonging to his wife, Michelle Bolsonaro, or anyone else. De Moraes has further restricted Bolsonaro from having visitors at his home in Brasília, allowing only family and legal representatives. Additionally, visitors are prohibited from recording or taking photos during their visits. Any noncompliance with De Moraes’ orders could lead to imprisonment for Bolsonaro.
This house arrest order came just a day after Bolsonaro’s supporters peacefully demonstrated in 62 cities across Brazil against Judge Moraes and leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Protesters also expressed gratitude towards former President Donald Trump for imposing human rights sanctions against Moraes in response to the ongoing censorship of conservative voices in Brazil.
In explaining his decision, De Moraes cited Bolsonaro’s collaboration with his sons and supporters to use social media to allegedly incite attacks on the Supreme Court and advocate for foreign interventions in Brazil’s judiciary.
In July, De Moraes had already implemented strict measures against Bolsonaro, including mandating an ankle monitor and banning him from social media, as part of several precautions. Bolsonaro faces serious allegations regarding an alleged plot to overturn the results of the closely contested 2022 presidential election, which Lula won over him.
De Moraes stated, “There is no doubt that there was a violation of the imposed precautions,” referring to Bolsonaro creating content for his children’s social media accounts and their supporters.
On Sunday, Bolsonaro was unable to attend a national event due to the curfew mandating he remain at home over the weekend. Instead, he observed the proceedings through his phone.
Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, one of Jair Bolsonaro’s sons, reportedly shared a now-deleted video of his father on Instagram while speaking to a crowd in Rio de Janeiro. His posts, along with others from Bolsonaro’s family published on social media over the weekend, were highlighted in De Moraes’ arrest order. The judge cited an instance where Bolsonaro participated in a video call with Brazilian MP Nicolas Ferreira during a rally in São Paulo.
De Moraes indicated that there was clear involvement in organizing materials for demonstrations, suggesting continued illegal activity from Bolsonaro and his sons, who allegedly manipulated their father’s statements to incite further unrest against the Supreme Court.
Eduardo Bolsonaro, another son, voiced his support for his father’s actions in a statement from the U.S., declaring that the charges against him are a misuse of power suppressing opposition in Brazil and asserting, “Brazil is no longer a democracy. The world should take note.”
Supporters protested outside Bolsonaro’s home in Brasília in response to the arrest, and others organized a motorcade against the judicial ruling.
Bolsonaro’s legal team denied the allegations of social media violations and asserted that his participation at demonstrations does not constitute a crime. They plan to appeal the house arrest ruling, asserting that speaking at protests doesn’t breach any legal precautions.
The U.S. State Department also condemned the arrest, highlighting the need for accountability in acts of support for democratic values. They referred to De Moraes as a “human rights abuser” using Brazilian institutions to silence opposition.
