In a significant turn of events, Jair Bolsonaro, the former president of Brazil, has been taken into custody after being deemed a concrete flight risk while he was under house arrest. The right-wing politician was previously found guilty of plotting a military coup in September, resulting in a staggering sentence of over 27 years in prison. However, Bolsonaro remains under house arrest as he awaits the outcome of his appeals.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes announced that the decision to detain the 70-year-old was a precautionary measure, triggered by new evidence that emerged. In a concerning admission, Bolsonaro confessed to attempting to open his electronic ankle monitor with a soldering iron, although he denied any intention to remove it altogether. Court officials suggested that he was planning to use a rally outside his residence as a distraction to facilitate his escape.
The court filing authorizing Bolsonaro's arrest revealed that the monitoring center, which oversees his house arrest, had raised alarms about his intentions to disable the ankle bracelet. This plan was believed to be executed during the chaos of a demonstration organized by his son, Flávio Bolsonaro, who serves as a senator. Flávio took to social media, urging supporters to gather outside their father's home, stating, “Are you going to fight for your country, or watch it all from your phone there on your sofa? I invite you to fight with us.” He emphasized that the vigil was intended to pray for his father’s health and advocate for the restoration of democracy in Brazil.
Justice Moraes justified the decision for detention by highlighting the risk of Bolsonaro attempting to flee to foreign embassies, given his previous indications of seeking asylum through diplomatic channels. Notably, the U.S. embassy in Brasília is situated approximately 13 kilometers (8 miles) from Bolsonaro's residence, raising further alarm among the authorities.
Bolsonaro's legal troubles have not only affected his political career but have also drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist, U.S. President Donald Trump. In response to the situation, Trump imposed a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods, signaling potential economic repercussions stemming from Bolsonaro's actions.
Currently, Bolsonaro is being held at a police station in Brasília, where he is expected to undergo a custody hearing on Sunday. His conviction included leading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his grip on power after losing the 2022 election to leftist rival Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The justices determined that Bolsonaro was aware of a plot that included plans to assassinate Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, as well as to arrest and execute Justice Moraes, who has presided over Bolsonaro's trial.
Despite losing the election, Lula was sworn in without incident on January 1, 2023. However, just a week later, on January 8, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed government buildings in Brasília. In response, security forces intervened, leading to around 1,500 arrests. The Supreme Court justices concluded that the rioters had been incited by Bolsonaro, whose ultimate goal was to have the military intervene and restore him to power.
At the time of sentencing, Bolsonaro's legal team referred to the 27 years and three months prison term as “absurdly excessive.” Additionally, he has been barred from holding public office until 2060—eight years after the completion of his sentence. Bolsonaro has characterized the trial as a witch hunt, alleging that it is designed to thwart his potential candidacy in the 2026 presidential election.