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Brazilian court denies ex-president Jair Bolsonaro’s request to travel to Trump’s inauguration

SAO PAULO – Brazil's Supreme Court on Thursday rejected former President Jair Bolsonaro's request to temporarily reinstate his passport so he can attend U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration in Washington next week.

Judge Alexandre de Moraes, whom Mr Bolsonaro has frequently called a personal enemy, said in his ruling that Mr Bolsonaro was not currently in a position to represent Brazil at the tournament and that the former president had no right to defend himself in court. He said there was no sufficient proof that he represented Brazil. I was invited.

Brazil's Supreme Court has rejected former President Bolsonaro's travel request. Bloomberg via Getty Images

Bolsonaro is under extensive investigation, including for allegedly trying to stay in office despite losing the election, and his passport was confiscated by federal police in February last year on suspicion of being a flight risk. He denies the charges against him.

Reacting to the X-day ruling on Thursday, Bolsonaro compared his situation to the case against Trump in the United States and accused Brazil's judicial system of political persecution against him. He said Trump had “overcome judicial activism.” I'll get over it too. ”

The former Brazilian president had applied for permission to leave the country from January 17 to 22 to attend the January 20 inauguration ceremony and the Hispanic Inaugural Ball. Bolsonaro, an outspoken supporter of President Trump, said on his social media channels on January 8 that he was “very happy with this invitation.”

President Trump invited President Bolsonaro to his inauguration ceremony on January 20th. AP

“God willing, I will represent the conservatives in the United States, the right wing, the good Brazilian people,” Bolsonaro said.

On Saturday, De Moraes asked Bolsonaro's lawyers for proof of the invitation, and they sent an invitation signed by inaugural committee co-chairs Steve Witkoff and Kelly Loeffler.

Still, Mr. de Moraes argued that there was not sufficient proof that Mr. Bolsonaro had been invited to the inauguration. In his ruling, de Moraes followed the recommendation of Attorney General Paulo Gone, who said Wednesday that President Bolsonaro's personal interests do not outweigh the public interest in banning him from traveling abroad.

Bolsonaro is under multiple wide-ranging investigations, including on suspicion of trying to stay in office. AP

Mr. De Moraes said Mr. Bolsonaro remained at risk of fleeing the country, adding that Mr. Bolsonaro's supporters, who are facing legal problems in cases involving political loyalty, should leave the country and seek asylum. He added that he claims that. Hundreds of Bolsonaro's supporters involved in the Jan. 8, 2023, riot in the capital Brasilia have left Brazil to avoid prosecution.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will not attend President Trump's inauguration.

Federal police raided the home in February 2024 in connection with an investigation into whether Bolsonaro and his aides were planning an uprising to ignore the 2022 election results and keep the defeated right-wing leader in power. Bolsonaro's passport was seized during the search.

Brazil's Supreme Court had previously rejected Bolsonaro's request to retrieve his passport in March 2024, following an invitation from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

President Trump has invited world leaders such as Chinese President Xi Jinping and Argentine President Javier Milley to his inauguration. Trump Vance Transition Team Handout/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Last November, federal police formally charged Bolsonaro and 36 others, including senior military officials, with attempting a coup. Prosecutor General Gone will decide whether to indict Bolsonaro or abandon the investigation.

Legal experts believe Bolsonaro could be indicted and tried in the Supreme Court in the second half of 2025 for allegedly lying about his coronavirus vaccination status. Analysts also say there is a good chance he will stand trial by 2026 on charges of embezzling jewelry gifted to him by Saudi authorities.

The former president denies trying to stay in office after narrowly losing the 2022 election to his left-wing opponent Lula.

Brazil's ambassador to the United States, Maria Luisa Viotti, will attend President Trump's inauguration, the Brazilian government announced to The Associated Press on Thursday. President Lula was not officially invited to the ceremony.

President Trump has invited world leaders such as Chinese President Xi Jinping and Argentine President Javier Milley to his inauguration.

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