Bolsonaro Arrested After Attempt to Tamper with Electronic Monitoring
Brasília, Brazil – Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was arrested today after authorities persistent he attempted to remove his electronic ankle bracelet, a condition of his house arrest. The Supreme Court acted swiftly, citing concerns that Bolsonaro posed a flight risk.
Bolsonaro, 70, was previously sentenced to over 27 years in prison in September for plotting a coup aimed at overturning the 2022 election results. While initially placed under house arrest and required to wear the monitoring device,his appeals to avoid imprisonment were repeatedly denied,with a final rejection coming yesterday. Judge Alexandre de Moraes stated Bolsonaro allegedly planned to flee during a demonstration organized by his son, with the U.S. Embassy in Brasília – located 13 kilometers from Bolsonaro’s residence – identified as a potential destination.
The arrest follows a series of legal challenges and escalating tensions surrounding Bolsonaro’s post-presidency conduct. His lawyers had requested an extension of his house arrest rather of imprisonment, but that appeal was also dismissed. He was expected to begin serving his prison sentence next week. The situation has drawn international attention, including a response from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who labeled Bolsonaro’s prosecution a “witch hunt” and retaliated with a 50 percent import tax on Brazil.