CNN
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Brazilian police swooped early on Friday at Jer Bolsonaro’s home and political headquarters, searching for property, ordered the former president to wear an electronic ankle tag, banned talking to foreign officials, approaching the embassy and banning the use of social media.
The restrictions ordered by Brazil’s Supreme Court were motivated by concerns that Bolsonaro would flee the country during his trial over a lawsuit overturning the outcome of the 2022 presidential election. Bolsonaro denied any misconduct.
Federal police also accused Bolsonaro and his son Eduardo of conspiring with the US government to impose sanctions against Brazilian officials, court documents said. The lawsuit “will directly benefit father and investor Jair Messias Bolsonaro,” the court said.
Federal police also seized unspecified US dollars of cash.
Speaking outside the police station on Friday, Bolsonaro called the ankle tag “the greatest humiliation” and “had never thought about leaving Brazil.”
“My doubts (my leaving the country) are exaggeration… I am the former president of the Republic – I am 70 years old,” he said.
Bolsonaro added that police have seized “about 14,000 US dollars” and claimed the money is for personal use, and that he has a receipt to prove it.
The attack came when US President Donald Trump tried to force his current Brazilian counterpart, Louise Inacio Lula da Silva.
Trump threatened Brazil with 50% tariffs from August 1st, according to a letter posted to his social media platform Truth Social last week.
In the letter, Trump linked the tariff threat to what he described as a “witch hunt” trial against his close ally, Bolsonaro.
Brazil’s Supreme Court on Friday accused Bolsonaro and his son Eduardo of working with the US to impose tariffs.
Court documents highlighted Bolsonaro’s confidential meeting with US State Department officials, highlighting Trump’s letter as “aggressive” and “clear threat” to Brazil’s sovereignty.
Da Silva, widely known as Lula, spoke only to CNN’s Thursday, and said Trump’s threat has left the “protocol” and argued that the fate of his predecessor is not part of the trade negotiations.
“The judicial division of Brazil is independent. The President of the Republic has no effect at all,” he said, adding that Bolsonaro “is not judged personally. He is judged by his attempt to organize a coup.”
Lula added that if the actions he took place during the January 6th rebellion took place in Brazil, Trump would be on trial in his country.
On Friday, Trump posted a letter to Bolsonaro about the True Society. There, he suggested that the former Brazilian leader was a victim of a “unjust system” and said he was “watching closely.”
Bolsonaro posted Trump’s letter to his official X account, and in subsequent videos he thanked Trump for his support with “eternal thanks.”
Bolsonaro previously appeared to be preparing for the outcome of his trial, dismissing the idea that he might be considered a flight risk, saying, “I’m faced with the process.”
“I don’t think I’m doing anything. I don’t think of anything, I don’t think of anything,” he says, “I’m not a criminal. They are the ones who are persecuting me.”
Bolsonaro could face more than 40 years behind the bar if it turns out he’s committed the crime of masterminding a coup.
He is among 34 people charged with five crimes, including attempted coups. Prosecutors argue that some of the coup conspiracy could potentially assassinate his vice president and the Supreme Court minister.
Brian Winter, executive vice president of the American Association and Council of America, told CNN that for Brazil, the United States is not as important trading partner as China.
“Brazil only sends about 11% of its exports to the US,” Winter said. “That’s half of what Brazil sends to China, and for some, not all, but for some, we can find a market outside the US.”
“The problem is, if this continues to escalate, President Trump can use even more painful measures, such as financial sanctions on a large group of people,” Winter asked that Trump had previously threatened to travel bans on Colombian citizens during his disagreement with the Colombian government over migrant flights.
“President Trump may continue to escalate this in ways that could ultimately cause quite a lot of pain for the Brazilian government and the people of Brazil,” Winter said.
This story has been updated.
Duarte Mendonca and Marcelo Medeiros of CNN contributed the report.
