Federal police in Brazil raided the home and political headquarters of former President Jair Bolsonaro early Friday, executing Supreme Court-authorized search and seizure warrants as part of an ongoing investigation into an alleged coup plot following the 2022 presidential election. Authorities ordered Bolsonaro to wear an electronic ankle tag and imposed multiple restrictions, citing fears he might flee the country and seek asylum in the United States.
The former president has also been barred from using social media, contacting others under investigation, and meeting with foreign officials or diplomats. Brazilian media reported he is subject to a nightly curfew from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Bolsonaro's press office confirmed the tag had been installed and said he would comply with all legal directives.
This is a "supreme humiliation," Bolsonaro told reporters outside a police station in Brasília. "The suspicions (of me leaving the country) are an exaggeration... damn it, I'm a former president of the republic - I'm 70 years old."
Federal agents seized about $14,000 in cash during the raid. Bolsonaro claimed the money was for personal use and said he had receipts to verify its origin. He reiterated his innocence, stating, "I'm not considering anything, nothing at all. I'm not a criminal, the criminal is the one persecuting me."
The investigation centers on accusations that Bolsonaro orchestrated a plan to overturn the election of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Prosecutors allege he is among 34 individuals who attempted a coup, with parts of the scheme including a draft decree to void the election and a plan to potentially assassinate Lula and other top officials.
The Supreme Federal Court also cited messages between Bolsonaro's son, Eduardo Bolsonaro, and U.S. contacts as evidence of efforts to influence American policy against Brazilian officials. Eduardo, currently residing in the U.S., is also under investigation.
President Donald Trump came to Bolsonaro's defense in a letter posted Thursday on Truth Social. "I have seen the terrible treatment you are receiving at the hands of an unjust system turned against you. This should end immediately!" Trump wrote. Bolsonaro reposted the message to his official X account, thanking Trump with "eternal gratitude."
The letter followed Trump's earlier tariff threat against Brazil, which warned of a 50% duty on Brazilian exports beginning August 1. Trump linked the move to the ongoing legal proceedings, characterizing the case as a politically motivated "witch hunt."
President Lula responded by denouncing Trump's threats and affirming the independence of Brazil's judiciary. "The president of the Republic has no influence whatsoever," Lula told CNN. Bolsonaro "is not being judged personally. He is being judged by the acts he tried to organize a coup d'état."
