Jair Bolsonaro Under House Arrest Amid Coup Attempt Charges

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was placed under house arrest on Monday, with Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes overseeing the decision. This ruling comes as part of an ongoing trial in which Bolsonaro is accused of attempting a coup in 2022. De Moraes recently faced sanctions from the Trump administration, which claimed the actions were politically motivated. The judge explained that the house arrest was necessary because Bolsonaro had not adhered to previously imposed restrictions linked to the coup trial. These restrictions included wearing an electronic bracelet and a ban on using social media platforms. Despite these limitations, Bolsonaro allegedly participated in a protest against the Supreme Court in Rio de Janeiro, violating the terms of his restrictions. According to reports, Bolsonaro's participation involved a virtual appearance through a speakerphone call with his son Flávio Bolsonaro, raising concerns about his compliance with the court's orders. This violation of his restrictions has led Judge de Moraes to threaten further penalties, stating he would imprison Bolsonaro if he continued to disregard the court's directives. Bolsonaro's legal team has indicated plans to appeal the house arrest decision, which also limits his communication to authorized visitors and his lawyers only. The implications of this ruling have also drawn criticism from the US State Department, contrasting sharply with the support Bolsonaro received from former President Trump, who has referred to the trial against him as a 'witch hunt.' Bolsonaro served as the President of Brazil from 2019 until his defeat by current leader Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, known as Lula, in 2022. The trial involves accusations that Bolsonaro orchestrated a coup by encouraging his supporters to assault major government institutions in Brasilia and allegedly plotted the assassination of three political adversaries, including Lula, his Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, and Judge de Moraes. As Bolsonaro remains under house arrest, the unfolding legal drama in Brazil highlights the ongoing political tensions in the country and the challenges surrounding the rule of law post-presidency. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2