The US State Department has condemned a Brazilian Supreme Court order for the arrest of former President Jea Bolsonaro, who is on trial over a conspiracy suspected to overturn the outcome of the 2022 presidential election.
Judge Alexandre de Moraise issued the order Monday, saying Bolsonaro failed to comply with restrictions previously imposed by the court, including the use of social media and mobile phones.
The court’s decision took place at the time of tense relations between Washington and Brasilia, and the lawsuit against right-wing populist Bolsonaro was seized by President Donald Trump as a threat to trade negotiations.
On Monday, the US State Department’s Western Hemisphere Bureau accused Judge Moraes of “using Brazilian institutions to silence opposition and threaten democracy.”
“It’s not a public service to put more restrictions on Jair Bolsonaro’s ability to protect herself in public. Let Bolsonaro speak to her!” Post said.
“The United States will condemn Moraes’ orders to impose house arrest on Bolsonaro, and will support and hold all authorized actions liable.”
The court order said Bolsonaro recorded a speech posted on other users’ social media accounts where he can see his ankle monitor. Moraes said it ignored an order banning “the exploitation of interviews or public or private speeches posted on third-party social media.”
Bolsonaro is on house arrest at his residence and is not permitted to have visitors except for his lawyers and people who have been approved by the court. The former president is also prohibited from using mobile phones directly or through third parties.
Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, Bolsonaro’s eldest son, also criticized the court. A decision that told CNN Brasil that his father never violated a court order.
“We are officially in a dictatorship, which is a sad page in Brazil’s history,” he said.
In February, Jer Bolsonaro was charged in connection with alleged coup plans to overturn the results of the 2022 election and take power away from his opponent, President Louise Inacio Lula da Silva. Prosecutors argue that some of the coup conspiracy could potentially assassinate his vice president and the Supreme Court minister.
Bolsonaro denied any misconduct.
Bolsonaro’s ally, Trump calls the trial against the former Brazilian president “politically motivated” and criticizes Brazilian authorities for rejection. Last week he signed enforcement action that imposes a 50% tariff on Brazil after threatening to do so if the country fails to close the trial against Bolsonaro.
The United States has also approved Judge Moraes for what is considered “serious human rights violations” and announced visa restrictions on Bolsonaro’s trial against him and other court officials.
Bolsonaro supporters and some of Brazilian rights welcome Trump’s active interest in the incident. However, the current administration of Brasilia, and many other administrations in Latin American countries, see it as a US that directly interferes with the issue.
president Last week, Lula accused the United States of imposing tariffs on Brazil’s exports and sanctioning them by a Supreme Court judge. He accused the US government of interfering with Brazil’s judicial system. This is a move he called “unacceptable.”
