Brazilian Judge Orders House Arrest for Bolsonaro Plot Convicts
On Saturday, a Brazilian judge placed ten individuals under house arrest, all of whom were previously convicted for their involvement in a scheme to maintain power for ex-President Jair Bolsonaro following his 2022 electoral defeat.
This decision by Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes quickly followed the arrest of a former police commander in Paraguay. The commander, who was also implicated in the plot, was extradited back to Brazil.
Silvinei Vasques, who formerly directed Brazil’s Federal Highway Police, was returned to Brazil on Friday night. He had attempted to flee to El Salvador with Paraguayan documents after removing his ankle monitor and driving a rental car to Paraguay.
Previously, those now under house arrest were subject to monitoring through ankle devices or required to stay in a designated location each night.
Among these individuals is Filipe Martins, who served as an adviser to Bolsonaro. His lawyer, Jeffrey Chiquini, shared on X, “There is no greater injustice than condemning a person for the actions of another,” and mentioned plans to appeal the decision.
Bolsonaro himself was sentenced to 27 years for attempting to stage a coup. He has been imprisoned since November and hospitalized since Wednesday for complications following hernia surgery on Thursday. His wife, Michelle Bolsonaro, noted his ongoing battle with persistent hiccups, stating, “It has been nine months of anguish and daily hiccups,” via social media.
The trials involving Bolsonaro and other officials have garnered significant attention in Brazil, a country that reinstated democracy in 1985 after military rule.
In the U.S., former President Donald Trump initially criticized the legal proceedings against Bolsonaro, labeling them a “witch hunt” and imposing tariffs on Brazilian goods. However, after Bolsonaro’s conviction, the U.S. softened its stance. In November, Trump signed an executive order to reduce tariffs on Brazilian beef and coffee, and earlier this month, the U.S. Treasury removed sanctions on Judge de Moraes and his wife amidst ongoing trade negotiations between the two nations.
