Brazil's highest court has mandated that former right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro be placed under house arrest.
He is facing charges concerning allegations of attempting a coup, which he refutes.
The investigating judge, Alexandre de Moraes, stated that the decision arose because Bolsonaro had failed to adhere to the restraining orders issued last month.
Bolsonaro's legal representatives responded by contesting the claim of any violation of the restraining order and indicated they would appeal the decision, as reported by Reuters.
The US State Department expressed its condemnation of the court's ruling in a statement on X, asserting it "will hold accountable all those aiding and abetting sanctioned conduct."
Donald Trump has referred to Bolsonaro's trial as a "witch-hunt" and used it as an excuse to impose 50% tariffs on select Brazilian goods, despite the US having a trade surplus with Brazil.
Mr. Moraes, who has also faced US sanctions, noted that Bolsonaro utilized social media platforms of his allies, including his sons, to disseminate messages that incited attacks on the Supreme Court and foreign interference in Brazil's judiciary.
Pro-Bolsonaro demonstrations occurred in several cities across Brazil on Sunday. One of his sons, Flávio, a senator, briefly put his father on speakerphone for the crowd in Rio de Janeiro.
Flávio was also reported to have posted a video, which he later deleted, showing his father speaking directly to supporters.
Mr. Moraes referenced this incident in his ruling, stating that Bolsonaro had "deliberately disregarded" previous restrictions, according to local news sources.
"The blatant disregard for the preventative measures was so apparent that - it is worth noting - the defendant's own son, senator Flávio Nantes Bolsonaro, chose to erase the post from his Instagram account to hide the legal violation," the ruling stated.
Furthermore, Mr. Moraes prohibited Bolsonaro from receiving visitors, apart from lawyers or those authorized by the Supreme Court, and from using a mobile phone directly or indirectly through others.
"Justice is blind, but it is not foolish," Mr. Moraes wrote, emphasizing that the court "will not permit a defendant to mock it, believing he will escape consequences due to his political and economic influence."
These limitations were enacted due to allegations that he was inciting Donald Trump to intervene in the case.
Trump and Bolsonaro shared a cordial relationship during their overlapping presidencies, having met at the White House in 2019.
In a social media post last month, Trump expressed his support for the former president, claiming Bolsonaro "was not guilty of anything" and lauding him as a "strong leader" who "truly loved his country."
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