Rio de Janeiro, – The magistrate of the
Brazilian Supreme Court, Alexandre de Moraes, gave this Monday a period of 24 hours to the defense of former President Jair Bolsonaro to explain the non-compliance with the precautionary measure that prohibits him from using social networks, either directly or indirectly, under penalty of going to prison.
The judge’s decision responds to the appearance of videos on various digital platforms in which Bolsonaro appears giving a speech to several supporters in the
Chamber of Deputies, where he also showed the electronic ankle bracelet that he is obliged to use by order of the Court.
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Since last Friday, the former president (2019-2022) is under new precautionary measures within the framework of his trial for coup, among which are the use of the ankle bracelet and not being able to give interviews on social media.
De Moraes, who is the investigating judge in the case of the attempted coup d’état that occurred on January 8, 2023, clarified hours earlier this Monday that the far-right leader could not give interviews that were broadcast on social media either.
In his decision, the judge warned that the disclosure of audiovisual records constitutes a direct violation of the restrictions.
“The ban includes the transmission, retransmission or publication of audios, videos or transcripts of interviews on any platform, even if carried out by third parties,” the magistrate emphasized.
Bolsonaro exhibited this Monday, for the first time, the electronic ankle bracelet he is obliged to use, during a visit to the Lower House in Brasilia, which ended in tumult and even with a deputy injured.
During an impromptu speech to supporters, the far-right leader again insisted on his innocence and reiterated that the ankle monitor is a “maximum humiliation.”
“I didn’t steal from public coffers, I didn’t divert funds, I didn’t kill anyone, I didn’t traffic anyone. This is the symbol of maximum humiliation in our country,” he stated before his followers.
Bolsonaro agreed to show the ankle monitor to the press after a meeting he held with several opposition deputies and senators in the Lower House.
The ankle bracelet is one of the precautionary measures imposed by the Supreme Court on Bolsonaro, who is accused of allegedly leading a coup plot to remain in power after his defeat in the 2022 elections.
The former president is also prohibited from leaving home between 7:00 PM and 7:00 AM and on weekends; contacting foreign ambassadors and diplomats and approaching embassies and speaking with others involved in the proceedings.
Magistrate De Moraes justified the imposition of the measures in light of evidence of crimes of “coercion, obstruction” of justice and “attack on national sovereignty”, according to a Federal Police report.
According to the judge, Bolsonaro and his son, Congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro, who has been in the United States since March, sought to “induce, instigate, and assist” Donald Trump’s government “in the practice of hostile acts against Brazil,” with the aim of “shelving” the coup case, according to the investigation.
The process facing the former head of state, which could condemn him to a sentence of 40 years in prison, was the main reason that led the President of the United States, Donald Trump, to announce an additional 50% tariff on Brazilian imports starting August 1st.
The Republican leader claimed that Bolsonaro is the victim of a “witch hunt” and demanded that the trial “end immediately”.
