Latest news with #AlexandreDeMoraes
BBC News
a day ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Brazil's Supreme Court Justice threatens to arrest Jair Bolsonaro
A Brazilian Supreme Court justice has threatened to detain former President Jair judge, Alexandre de Moraes, accused Bolsonaro of breaching a ban which bars the former president from appearing in audios, videos and interviews shared on social media. Justice Moraes said the ex-president could face "immediate imprisonment" unless his lawyers could provide a satisfactory explanation within 24 hours as to why their client had appeared in a video shared by Bolsonaro's son, Eduardo, on Monday. Bolsonaro is on trial for allegedly plotting a coup to prevent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva from taking office in 2023, which he denies. Moraes has been leading the investigation into allegations Bolsonaro and his allies committed "antidemocratic acts".Moraes had already imposed a raft of restrictions on Bolsonaro on Friday, including a night-time and a weekend curfew, as well as 24-hour surveillance, to prevent him from fleeing the country while he is on has also been ordered to refrain from contacting foreign governments and their embassies in the ex-president has to wear an electronic ankle tag and is barred from communicating with his son, Eduardo, who has been lobbying on his father's behalf in the United States. Bolsonaro insists that he has never considered leaving Brazil and called Justice Moraes a "dictator". The measures were ordered by Justice Moraes following a request from the federal police and with the endorsement of Brazil's Attorney-General's had earlier accused the ex-president and his son Eduardo of trying to obstruct the trial against the older Bolsonaro and of violating Brazil's sovereignty by encouraging the US government to interfere in the trial. On Monday, Moraes gave further details of the restrictions, explaining that Bolsonaro was not just barred from appearing in videos and audios that he himself shared on social media, but also from appearing in those shared or published by third parties. Shortly after that, Bolsonaro spoke to journalists as he was leaving Congress, where he had met opposition lawmakers. He showed them his electronic ankle tag, calling it "a symbol of the utmost humiliation".Footage of the interaction was shared on social media by Eduardo Bolsonaro and supporters of the former president, in what Moraes says was a breach of the restrictions he had imposed. The trial of Bolsonaro, who governed Brazil from January 2019 to December 2022, is being closely followed by US President Donald Trump, who has denounced it as a "witch hunt". The two men are long-time allies and earlier this month, Trump threatened to slap a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods starting on 1 his letter to the current Brazilian president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Trump cited Brazil's treatment of Bolsonaro as a trigger for the tariff between the two governments rose further on Friday, when - in response to the restrictions imposed on Bolsonaro - the Trump administration revoked the US visa of Moraes and other Supreme Court Lula called it an "arbitrary and completely baseless measure" and denounced "the interference of one country in another's justice system".
The Guardian
a day ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Brazil court freezes Bolsonaro son's assets as ex-president threatened with arrest over social media use
A Brazilian supreme court justice has ordered the freezing of the accounts and assets of former president Jair Bolsonaro's third son, Eduardo Bolsonaro, the latter said on social media. Eduardo, a Brazilian congressman who has been in Washington to drum up support for his father, said on X on Monday the decision was 'another arbitrary' decision by Justice Alexandre de Moraes. CNN Brasil reported that Moraes's confidential decision was issued on Saturday as part of an investigation into Eduardo Bolsonaro's conduct in the US. Donald Trump has tied the imposition of steep tariffs on Brazilian goods to what the US president calls a 'witch-hunt' against the former Brazilian president. A decision showed on Monday evening that Moraes – who oversees the case in which Bolsonaro is accused of plotting a coup – also threatened to order Bolsonaro's arrest unless his lawyers explained within 24 hours why he breached restrictions on his use of social media. Bolsonaro's lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside normal business hours. Moraes on Friday ordered Bolsonaro to wear an ankle bracelet and banned him from using social media, among other measures – which were later upheld by a court panel – over allegations he courted Trump's interference. Bolsonaro described Moraes' decision to prohibit his social media use as 'cowardice', telling Reuters he intended to continue engaging with the press to ensure his voice was heard. On Monday, Moraes said Bolsonaro breached the supreme court order when speaking with journalists earlier in the day, after a meeting with allies in the Brazilian Congress. The moment – which marked the first time Bolsonaro publicly showed his ankle bracelet – came hours after Moraes issued a clarification of Friday's ruling, which stated that Bolsonaro's use of social media included use through third parties. Moraes, in his decision, attached screenshots of several posts on social media – including on news outlets – that showed Bolsonaro 'displaying the electronic monitoring device, delivering a speech to be displayed on digital platforms'. The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, last week called Moraes' court orders a 'political witch-hunt', responding on Friday with immediate visa revocations for 'Moraes and his allies on the court, as well as their immediate family members.' The court's crackdown on Bolsonaro adds to evidence that Trump's tactics are backfiring in Brazil, compounding trouble for his ideological ally and rallying public support behind the defiant leftist government. Hours before summoning Bolsonaro's lawyers, Moraes had issued a ruling that raised questions about whether the rightwing leader was allowed to talk to journalists. 'Obviously, the broadcasting, re-broadcasting or dissemination of audio, video or transcripts of interviews on any third-party social media platform is prohibited,' the judge said in the clarification of Friday's ruling. The measure sparked debate in Brazil regarding the ruling's range. Bolsonaro on Monday cancelled an interview with a news outlet that would have been broadcast live on social media. The supreme court declined to comment or elaborate on the specifics of that decision. A spokesperson for Bolsonaro also declined to comment, but the former president has always denied any wrongdoing.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Brazil: Judge threatens Bolsonaro over shared speech
A Brazilian Surpreme Court judge has threatened Jair Bolsonaro with imprisonment as the video of a speech by the former president to media outlets was circulated on social media by his allies — violating a social media ban. A document accessed by news agencies AFP and Reuters gave Bolsonaro's lawyers 24 hours to explain why he breached the restrictions placed on the far-right politician. Justice Alexandre de Moraes, on Friday, ordered Bolsonaro to wear an ankle braceletand banned him from using social media over allegations of planning a coup to oust elected president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. On Monday, the judge had clarified that the ban included the use of social media through third parties. The clarification has sparked a debate in Brazil if a social media ban should include news interviews. Bolsonaro is also said to have pursued interference from US President Donald Trump who placed steep new tariffs on Brazil, tying the decision to what he called a "witch hunt" against Bolsonaro. His reprimands include a ban from approaching embassies or foreign governments. What do we know about the video? Bolsonaro made the speech to journalists on Friday after attending Congress, where he first desplayed his ankle monitor. The video of Bolsonaro's speech was not posted from his own social media account. However, it was shared by his sons and political allies. Moraes showed these posts to journalists in Congress saying he believed the former president delivered the speech with an intent of it being shared on social media. Meanwhile Bolsonaro's son Eduardo claimed that the Brazilian Supreme Court had passed an order to freeze his accounts and assets. The third of four sons, Eduardo Bolsonaro is a congressman who has been in Washington to gather support for his father. Edited by: Elizabeth Schumacher
The Guardian
a day ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Brazil court freezes Bolsonaro son's assets as ex-president threatened with arrest over social media use
A Brazilian supreme court justice has ordered the freezing of the accounts and assets of former president Jair Bolsonaro's third son, Eduardo Bolsonaro, the latter said announced social media. Eduardo, a Brazilian congressman who has been in Washington to drum up support for his father, said on X on Monday the decision was 'another arbitrary' decision by Justice Alexandre de Moraes. CNN Brasil reported that Moraes's confidential decision was issued on Saturday as part of an investigation into Eduardo Bolsonaro's conduct in the US. Donald Trump has tied the imposition of steep tariffs on Brazilian goods to what the US president calls a 'witch-hunt' against the former Brazilian president. A decision showed on Monday evening that Moraes – who oversees the case in which Bolsonaro is accused of plotting a coup – also threatened to order Bolsonaro's arrest unless his lawyers explained within 24 hours why he breached restrictions on his use of social media. Bolsonaro's lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside normal business hours. Moraes on Friday ordered Bolsonaro to wear an ankle bracelet and banned him from using social media, among other measures – which were later upheld by a court panel – over allegations he courted Trump's interference. Bolsonaro described Moraes' decision to prohibit his social media use as 'cowardice', telling Reuters he intended to continue engaging with the press to ensure his voice was heard. On Monday, Moraes said Bolsonaro breached the supreme court order when speaking with journalists earlier in the day, after a meeting with allies in the Brazilian Congress. The moment – which marked the first time Bolsonaro publicly showed his ankle bracelet – came hours after Moraes issued a clarification of Friday's ruling, which stated that Bolsonaro's use of social media included use through third parties. Moraes, in his decision, attached screenshots of several posts on social media – including on news outlets – that showed Bolsonaro 'displaying the electronic monitoring device, delivering a speech to be displayed on digital platforms'. The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, last week called Moraes' court orders a 'political witch-hunt', responding on Friday with immediate visa revocations for 'Moraes and his allies on the court, as well as their immediate family members.' The court's crackdown on Bolsonaro adds to evidence that Trump's tactics are backfiring in Brazil, compounding trouble for his ideological ally and rallying public support behind the defiant leftist government. Hours before summoning Bolsonaro's lawyers, Moraes had issued a ruling that raised questions about whether the rightwing leader was allowed to talk to journalists. 'Obviously, the broadcasting, re-broadcasting or dissemination of audio, video or transcripts of interviews on any third-party social media platform is prohibited,' the judge said in the clarification of Friday's ruling. The measure sparked debate in Brazil regarding the ruling's range. Bolsonaro on Monday cancelled an interview with a news outlet that would have been broadcast live on social media. The supreme court declined to comment or elaborate on the specifics of that decision. A spokesperson for Bolsonaro also declined to comment, but the former president has always denied any wrongdoing.
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Lula slams US sanctions on Brazilian judges in Bolsonaro case
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva voiced solidarity with Brazil's top justices over the US visa sanctions. (EPA Images pic) BRASÍLIA: Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Saturday denounced US visa sanctions on judges in the coup case against former leader Jair Bolsonaro, a right-wing ally of Donald Trump. 'My solidarity and support go to the justices of the Supreme Federal Court, who have been affected by yet another arbitrary and completely baseless measure by the United States government,' Lula said in a statement posted on X. 'The interference of one country in another's justice system is unacceptable and violates the basic principles of respect and sovereignty between nations.' Bolsonaro is on trial for allegedly seeking to stay in power by overturning the 2022 election won by Lula. Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes ruled Friday that Bolsonaro must wear an electronic monitoring device, stay home at night and stay off social media as he awaits a verdict. Hours later the US revoked the visa for Moraes and his 'allies' on the court, as well as their immediate family members. 'Brazilian Supreme Federal Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes's political witch hunt against Jair Bolsonaro created a persecution and censorship complex so sweeping that it not only violates basic rights of Brazilians but also extends beyond Brazil's shores to target Americans,' Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement. Moraes, one of the judges in Bolsonaro's trial for allegedly seeking to nullify Lula's election victory, said the restrictions were necessary given the 'hostile acts' against Brazil by the accused and his son and former politician Eduardo Bolsonaro. He said in a ruling Saturday that Eduardo Bolsonaro 'intensified the illicit conduct… through various posts and attacks on the Federal Supreme Court on social media' in reaction to Friday's ruling. Moraes cited a Facebook post in which the younger Bolsonaro called the judge 'a gangster in robes'. Both Trump and Bolsonaro have claimed to be victims of political persecution, and the former frequently verbally attacks judges at home over their rulings.
