The Federal Police conducted an operation this Friday (07/18) at Jair Bolsonaro's residence in Brasília and at addresses linked to the Liberal Party (PL), the former president's party.
The warrant was issued by the Supreme Federal Court (STF), which determined that the former president must now wear an electronic ankle bracelet and will be monitored 24 hours a day. He will also not be able to access social media or leave Brasília without authorization.
Bolsonaro was taken to the Federal Police headquarters in the capital so that the device could be placed on his ankle.
According to the order, Bolsonaro must also remain at home between 7 PM and 7 AM. He was also prohibited from communicating with foreign ambassadors and diplomats, as well as other defendants and those investigated by the Supreme Court, and he cannot access embassies.
According to the newspaper Folha de S.Paulo, the STF's precautionary orders were motivated by the possibility of Bolsonaro fleeing the country and seeking asylum from the U.S. government.
Bolsonaro suspected of obstruction of justice
Upon issuing the order, STF Minister Alexandre de Moraes complied with a representation from the Federal Police that received a favorable opinion from the Attorney General's Office (PGR).
The Federal Police assesses that Bolsonaro has acted to hinder the trial in which he is a defendant for attempted coup – the process is in its final stages and may be concluded this year – and has taken initiatives that characterize the crimes of coercion during the process, obstruction of justice, and attack on the sovereignty of the country.
After the Federal Police action, Bolsonaro speaks of "humiliation" and "exaggeration" and denies plans to flee
Upon leaving the Federal Police headquarters, Bolsonaro referred to the STF restrictions against him as a "supreme humiliation" and "exaggeration" and denied having plans to flee Brazil or seek refuge in embassies.
In February of last year, the former president spent two nights at the Hungarian embassy shortly after having his passport confiscated by the Federal Police.
He also reiterated that the process against him for coup d'état is a "political inquiry" and that he is being "persecuted." "What evidence do they have against me? There is nothing. Just assumptions."
In a statement released moments before, the defense of the former president said that "they were surprised and indignant at the imposition of severe precautionary measures against him, who until now has always complied with all the determinations of the Judiciary," and that they will express themselves on the case after accessing the court decision.
Action occurs amid a diplomatic crisis between the U.S. and Brazil
The action by the Federal Police and the precautionary order against the former president occur in the wake of a diplomatic crisis between the U.S. and Brazil, sparked by the imposition of high tariffs by President Donald Trump, an ally of Bolsonaro, and the opening of a trade investigation against Brazil.
Among the justifications listed by Trump is Bolsonaro's legal situation, which according to the American would be a victim of a "witch hunt".
The measures from the White House were celebrated at the time of the announcement, on July 9, by licensed federal deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL-SP), who has been in the U.S. since March and has been lobbying American politicians in favor of his father.
The high tariffs, however, had negative repercussions even among right-wing sectors and divided proponents of bolsonarism, such as the governor of São Paulo, Tarcísio de Freitas.
In recent interviews, Jair Bolsonaro mentioned the intention to recover his passport to go to the U.S. to "talk" with Trump and reverse the tariffs, claiming that such a measure would never have been imposed if he were the president.
On the night of Thursday (07/17), Trump also released a letter to former president Jair Bolsonaro in which he reiterated his support in the face of what he called "terrible treatment" that, in his opinion, he is receiving from Brazilian justice.
Trump also emphasized his desire for the criminal action against Bolsonaro for the accusation of plotting a coup to end "immediately". The Lula government classified Trump's actions as "blackmail".
Case reached Moraes's desk two days after high tariff announcement
According to Brazilian media, the confidential procedure that led the STF to impose precautionary measures on Bolsonaro this Friday reached Minister Alexandre de Moraes's desk two days after Trump's high tariff announcement against Brazil.
Among the people with whom Bolsonaro will not be able to maintain contact is his own son Eduardo, who became the target of an investigation in the STF after moving to the U.S. and requesting leave from his position as a federal deputy. Moraes asserts that he would be interfering in the progress of the criminal action regarding the coup plot.
Eduardo, who frequents the Trump family, has been working to persuade American authorities to pressure Brazil with various measures and sanctions in retaliation for his father's trial and the classification of social media companies that refuse to comply with STF orders to remove content linked to Bolsonaro's support base.
In addition to the tariffs, American authorities also hinted at the possibility of sanctioning Minister Moraes under the Magnitsky Act, which would mean that the minister could lose his credit card, as Visa, MasterCard, and American Express are American brands.
According to columnist Valdo Cruz from g1, it was through son Eduardo that Jair Bolsonaro would have facilitated an operation to attack national sovereignty and interfere in the independence of the Powers – which would have become evident after Trump's announcement that he would tax Brazilian exports by 50% starting August 1.
Bolsonaro publicly admitted to sending R$ 2 million to Eduardo, but said at the time that he did so so that his son would not face "hardship" in the U.S., and that his actions were not to coerce authorities but to "defend democracy."
"You know that, back then, I didn't campaign, but R$ 17 million was deposited in my account and I put R$ 2 million in his account. Everything is more expensive abroad, I have two grandchildren, one four years old and another one year old, he is out there, I don't want him to face difficulties," he explained.
Eduardo's leave from his mandate in the Chamber expires this Sunday (07/20).
Bolsonaro is already ineligible until 2030 for abuse of power.
