Brazil’s Supreme Court has placed former President Jair Bolsonaro under house arrest, accusing him of violating previous court orders tied to a case alleging he plotted to overthrow the government. The ruling has drawn sharp criticism from the United States which called the move unjust and politically motivated.
The court’s decision delivered on Monday by Justice Alexandre de Moraes cited fresh violations of restrictions placed on Bolsonaro in July, including a ban on political messaging and communication through intermediaries.
“The disregard for court orders was blatant,” Moraes wrote in the ruling. “The defendant’s own son attempted to delete online evidence of the breach to hide the offense.”
Former President Bolsonaro’s legal team rejected the claims and announced plans to appeal. In a statement carried they denied any violation of court terms.
The US State Department responded hours after the ruling, stating it “condemns the court order” and warned of consequences for those “aiding and abetting sanctioned conduct.” The Trump’s administration has criticized Brazil’s recent legal move terming it as erosion of democratic norms.
The latest escalation stems from former President Bolsonaro’s alleged role in encouraging civil unrest and undermining judicial independence. Justice Moraes accused former president Bolsonaro of using social media networks linked to allies, including his sons, to fuel disinformation and rally support for foreign intervention in Brazil’s judiciary.
On Sunday Bolsonaro’s supporters staged demonstrations in major cities. In Rio de Janeiro, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro his son held up a phone during a rally allowing the crowd to hear his father speak live. Hours later, Flávio deleted a video of the call, but Moraes cited the clip as proof that Bolsonaro defied the court’s communications ban.
The judge also barred former President Bolsonaro from using a cellphone and limited his visits to legal counsel or those explicitly approved by the court.
“Justice is blind, but it is not foolish,” Moraes said in his order. “This court will not be manipulated by someone who believes political or financial status places them above the law.”
Former President Bolsonaro who denies the coup plot accusations has drawn public backing from former U.S. President Donald Trump. Last month President Trump called the charges “baseless” and praised Bolsonaro as a “true patriot.”
In a retaliatory response President Trump imposed a 50% tariff on select Brazilian imports in a recent move, citing Bolsonaro’s trial as an example of political persecution. The U.S. currently holds a trade surplus with Brazil.
Relations between the two countries remain tense. The U.S. sanctioned Justice Moraes earlier this year over human rights concerns tied to the Bolsonaro investigation. Still Brazilian authorities continue to assert that the case is driven by evidence and due process.
Bolsonaro’s legal troubles stem from investigations into his alleged efforts to overturn the 2022 election results, which saw Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva return to the presidency. The former president has repeatedly claimed, without proof, that the election was rigged.
This latest ruling intensifies Brazil’s domestic political divide and places international pressure on its judicial system ahead of court hearing.
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