Brazil Court Imposes Ankle Monitor, Curfew, and Social Media Ban on Jair Bolsonaro Amid Coup Plot Trial

Bolsonaro and Trump enjoyed a friendly relationship when their presidencies overlapped

A Brazilian court has ordered former President Jair Bolsonaro to wear an ankle monitor and observe a nightly curfew, citing fears that he may attempt to flee the country while facing trial over an alleged plot to overturn the 2022 presidential election results.

Bolsonaro, who led Brazil from 2019 to 2022, is accused of conspiring to orchestrate a coup to prevent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva from taking office in January 2023. He has denied any wrongdoing, calling the case “grave and baseless” and claiming it is a politically motivated attempt to prevent his 2026 presidential comeback.

The Supreme Court-ordered restrictions come after federal police raided Bolsonaro’s residence and the headquarters of his Liberal Party. Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ruled that the former president would be placed under 24-hour surveillance, banned from using social media, and prohibited from communicating with his son, Eduardo Bolsonaro, or any foreign diplomats, ambassadors, or embassies.

According to investigators, Bolsonaro, with the help of Eduardo, deliberately sought to pressure foreign governments—particularly the United States—to impose sanctions on Brazilian officials involved in the prosecution. Judge Moraes labeled these acts as illegal and deliberate interference in the judicial process.

Federal police say Bolsonaro attempted to obstruct justice and coerce judicial officials while undermining national sovereignty. He is also accused of actively participating in what they describe as a coordinated criminal organization aimed at launching a coup d’état and abolishing democratic rule.

In response to the court's decision, Bolsonaro’s legal team expressed “surprise and outrage,” claiming that the former president has always complied with court orders. Bolsonaro himself called the restrictions a “supreme humiliation” and reiterated that he had never considered leaving Brazil.

The political standoff has drawn international attention. U.S. President Donald Trump, a close ally of Bolsonaro, has denounced the Brazilian legal proceedings as a “witch hunt,” comparing them to his own legal battles. Trump recently posted a letter of support to Bolsonaro on his social media platform, calling the charges politically driven. He also threatened to impose a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods beginning August 1 unless the case against Bolsonaro is dropped.

In a retaliatory move, the U.S. revoked visas for Brazilian judicial officials involved in the case. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that the sanctions would also apply to the families of those officials. Brazil’s President Lula responded firmly, declaring that Brazil is “a sovereign country with independent institutions” and warning that any U.S. tariffs would be matched equally.

Bolsonaro’s trial includes seven co-defendants and centers on the January 8, 2023, storming of government buildings in Brasília by Bolsonaro supporters, just one week after Lula’s inauguration. The group faces five charges: attempting a coup, involvement in an armed criminal organization, attempted violent abolition of democratic rule, aggravated property damage, and degradation of national heritage sites.

A federal investigation launched in the aftermath of the riots produced an 884-page report unsealed in November 2024. The report accused Bolsonaro of not only knowing about but coordinating with a criminal organization to disrupt democratic order and remain in power unlawfully. Brazil’s Attorney General Paulo Gonet expanded on this in February, stating Bolsonaro led efforts to subvert the constitutional transition of power.

Bolsonaro, who narrowly lost the 2022 election and never formally conceded, was in the United States during the January 8 riots. He has consistently denied involvement in the unrest and any association with the rioters, many of whom had camped outside military barracks for weeks, urging intervention to prevent Lula’s presidency.

If convicted on all counts, the 70-year-old former president could face multiple decades in prison.