Brazil's Supreme Court has ordered former President Jair Bolsonaro to wear an electronic ankle monitor and remain under strict home curfew, a significant development in his ongoing trial for allegedly attempting a coup after his 2022 election loss. The ruling, issued on Friday, also imposes several other restrictions on the former leader. Bolsonaro described the measures as "a supreme humiliation."
The court's decision mandates that Bolsonaro cannot leave his home between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. on weekdays, and must remain home full-time on weekends. Additionally, he is prohibited from using social media, contacting foreign ambassadors or diplomats, approaching embassies, and communicating with other individuals under Supreme Court investigation, including his son, Eduardo Bolsonaro. Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversees the case, cited a "concrete possibility" of Bolsonaro fleeing the country as a reason for the precautionary measures.
These new restrictions come as Bolsonaro faces trial on charges related to the January 8, 2023, events, when thousands of his supporters stormed Brazil's Congress, Supreme Court, and presidential palace. Federal investigators allege these actions constituted an attempted coup to overturn the results of the 2022 election, which Bolsonaro lost to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. An 884-page report unsealed in November 2024 reportedly alleged Bolsonaro planned and was directly aware of the coup attempt.
The legal pressure on Bolsonaro has drawn international attention, particularly from former U.S. President Donald Trump, a staunch ally. Trump has publicly criticized the Brazilian legal proceedings, calling them a "witch hunt" and threatening tariffs on Brazilian goods to pressure authorities. The U.S. also recently revoked visas for Brazilian judicial officials involved in the case.
Bolsonaro has consistently denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that the case against him is politically motivated. This Supreme Court trial is separate from an earlier ruling by Brazil's Superior Electoral Court (TSE) in June 2023, which banned Bolsonaro from running for public office until 2030 for abuse of power and misuse of media during his 2022 election campaign. The current charges related to the alleged coup attempt could lead to a prison sentence of up to 40 years if he is convicted.