Brazil Police Tag Ex-President Bolsonaro, US Sanctions Judges Amid Coup Trial

Brazilian authorities on Friday raided the home of former President Jair Bolsonaro, fitting him with an electronic ankle tag and imposing severe restrictions, citing concerns he might flee the country. The dramatic development comes as Bolsonaro faces trial for an alleged plot to overturn the 2022 presidential election results.

Under orders from Brazil’s Supreme Court, the right-wing former leader is now barred from engaging with foreign officials, approaching embassies, and using social media. Police also seized approximately $14,000 from his residence.

Bolsonaro, who vehemently denies any wrongdoing, called the ankle tag a “supreme humiliation” outside the police station, asserting he never intended to leave Brazil. “The suspicions are an exaggeration… I’m a former president, I’m 70 years old,” he stated.

Hours after the raid, the US State Department announced immediate visa restrictions against Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes and other Brazilian court officials. Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused them of conducting a “political witch hunt” against Bolsonaro, ordering revocations for Moraes, his allies on the court, and their immediate family members.

The Brazilian Supreme Court, meanwhile, has accused Bolsonaro and his son Eduardo of collaborating with the US to impose crippling tariffs on Brazil. This follows recent threats from former US President Donald Trump, who linked tariff imposition to what he termed an “unjust system” targeting Bolsonaro, and later posted a letter of support for the former Brazilian leader on Truth Social. Brazil’s current President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has maintained that the country’s judiciary is independent and not subject to foreign influence or trade negotiations.

Bolsonaro faces potential decades in prison if convicted of masterminding the alleged coup, which prosecutors claim included a plan to assassinate key political figures. The escalating legal and diplomatic tensions underscore a deepening political crisis in Brazil with significant international ramifications.

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