Latest news with #searchwarrants
Reuters
3 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Brazil's top court orders raids on Bolsonaro; Washington revokes judge's visa
BRASILIA/WASHINGTON, July 18 (Reuters) - Brazil's Supreme Court issued search warrants and restraining orders against former President Jair Bolsonaro on Friday, banning him from contacting foreign officials over allegations he courted the interference of U.S. President Donald Trump. Washington responded by hitting Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes and unspecified other allies with visa restrictions. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Moraes' court orders a "political witch hunt" that had prompted him to make immediate visa revocations for "Moraes and his allies on the court, as well as their immediate family members." The Supreme Court did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Trump has already tried to use pressure to help Bolsonaro by announcing a 50% tariff on goods from Latin America's No. 1 economy. Bolsonaro told Reuters that he believed the court orders were a reaction to Trump's criticism of his trial before the Supreme Court for trying to overturn the last election. The court's crackdown on Bolsonaro added to evidence that Trump's tactics are backfiring in Brazil, compounding trouble for his ideological ally and rallying public support behind a defiant leftist government. Bolsonaro was banned from contacting foreign officials, using social media or approaching embassies, according to the decision issued by Moraes, who cited a "concrete possibility" of him fleeing the country. His home was raided by federal police and he had an ankle monitor placed on him. In an interview with Reuters at his party's headquarters on Friday, Bolsonaro called Moraes a "dictator" and described the latest court orders as acts of "cowardice." "I feel supreme humiliation," he said, when asked how he felt about wearing the ankle monitor. "I am 70 years old, I was president of the republic for four years." Bolsonaro denied any plans to leave the country, but said he would meet with Trump if he could get access to his passport, which police seized last year. He also said he had sought out the top U.S. diplomat in Brazil to discuss Trump's tariff threat. Asked about Bolsonaro's comments to Reuters, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said on Friday, citing previous comments from Trump, "Bolsonaro and his supporters are under attack from a weaponized court system." In his decision, Moraes said the restrictions against Bolsonaro were due to accusations that the former president was making efforts to get the "head of state of a foreign nation" to interfere in Brazilian courts, which the judge cast as an attack on national sovereignty. Bolsonaro is on trial before Brazil's Supreme Court on charges of plotting a coup to stop President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from taking office in January 2023. Trump has in recent weeks pressed Brazil to stop the legal case against Bolsonaro, saying that his ally was the victim of a "witch hunt". The U.S. president said last week he would impose a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods from August 1, in a letter that opened with criticism of the Bolsonaro trial. Trump on Thursday shared on Truth Social a letter he sent to Bolsonaro. "I have seen the terrible treatment you are receiving at the hands of an unjust system turned against you. This trial should end immediately!" he wrote. Moraes wrote in his decision that the higher tariffs threatened by Trump were aimed at creating a serious economic crisis in Brazil to interfere in the country's judicial system. Bolsonaro was also prohibited from contacting key allies including his son Eduardo Bolsonaro, a Brazilian congressman who has been working in Washington to drum up support his father. Bolsonaro told Reuters he had been talking to his son almost daily, denying any concerted U.S. lobbying effort on his behalf. He said he expected his son to seek U.S. citizenship to avoid returning to Brazil. A five-judge panel of Supreme Court judges reviewed and upheld Moraes' decision on Friday afternoon.
CNA
3 days ago
- Politics
- CNA
Brazil court places restraints on Bolsonaro, citing Trump ties
BRASILIA: Brazil's Supreme Court on Friday (July 18) issued search warrants and restrictions against former president Jair Bolsonaro, accusing him of seeking help from US President Donald Trump to interfere in the country's justice system. Federal police raided Bolsonaro's home and fitted him with an ankle monitor, according to the order signed by Justice Alexandre de Moraes. The court also barred him from contacting foreign officials, using social media or approaching embassies, citing a 'concrete possibility' he may flee the country. The ruling follows reports that Bolsonaro has sought foreign support, including from Trump, amid his ongoing trial on charges he plotted a coup to prevent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from taking office in 2023. 'I feel supreme humiliation,' Bolsonaro told Reuters in an interview at his party headquarters. 'I am 70 years old, I was president of the republic for four years,' he said, calling the court orders acts of 'cowardice' and describing Moraes as a 'dictator.' TARIFF THREAT FROM TRUMP Bolsonaro, who is banned from leaving Brazil, said he would meet with Trump if authorities returned his passport, which was seized by police last year. He also said he had sought out the top US diplomat in Brazil to discuss Trump's recent tariff threat. Last week, Trump announced a 50 per cent tariff on Brazilian goods starting August 1, saying Bolsonaro was being subjected to a 'witch hunt' by an 'unjust system.' On Thursday, Trump posted a letter he sent to Bolsonaro on his Truth Social platform, writing: 'I have seen the terrible treatment you are receiving… This trial should end immediately!' JUDGE SAYS TRUMP ACTIONS INTENDED TO INFLUENCE CASE In his decision, Moraes said the Trump administration's tariff threat was designed to create a serious economic crisis to influence Brazil's legal proceedings, an act he described as a breach of sovereignty. Bolsonaro is accused of attempting to overturn election results and plotting with military allies to keep Lula from taking office. His trial is ongoing at the Supreme Court, where Moraes has handled multiple investigations related to Bolsonaro's political activities. TRUMP TIES UNDER SCRUTINY The latest court orders intensify scrutiny of Bolsonaro's relationship with Trump, a longtime ally. The court cited evidence Bolsonaro was courting the 'head of state of a foreign nation,' a reference to Trump, in an effort to influence judicial proceedings. Bolsonaro said he believes the new measures were a direct reaction to Trump's statements and described them as politically motivated. 'They fear Trump. They want to silence anyone tied to him,' Bolsonaro said. FAMILY CONTACTS ALSO RESTRICTED Moraes' order also bans Bolsonaro from contacting close political allies, including his son Eduardo Bolsonaro, a federal lawmaker who has been based in Washington, D.C., and has reportedly lobbied in favour of his father.
RNZ News
3 days ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
Brazil court orders raids, restraints on Bolsonaro for Trump collusion
By Luciana Magalhaes and Ricardo Brito , Reuters Brazil's Supreme Court issued search warrants and restraining orders against former President Jair Bolsonaro, banning him from contacting foreign officials. File Photo. Photo: Mateus Bonomi / AFP Brazil's Supreme Court have issued search warrants and restraining orders against former President Jair Bolsonaro, banning him from contacting foreign officials over allegations he had courted the interference of US President Donald Trump. Federal police raided Bolsonaro's home and put an ankle monitor on him Friday (local time), an escalation in the legal pressure he is already facing and that Trump has tried to relieve with a steep tariffs on Brazilian goods. Bolsonaro told Reuters that he believed the court orders were a reaction to Trump's criticism of his trial before the Supreme Court. The court's crackdown on Bolsonaro added to evidence that Trump's tactics are backfiring in Brazil, compounding trouble for his ideological ally and rallying public support behind a defiant leftist government. Bolsonaro was banned from contacting foreign officials, using social media or approaching embassies, according to the decision issued by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who cited a "concrete possibility" of him fleeing the country. In an interview with Reuters at his party's headquarters on Friday, Bolsonaro called Moraes a "dictator" and described the latest court orders as acts of "cowardice." "I feel supreme humiliation," he said, when asked how he felt about wearing the ankle monitor. "I am 70 years old, I was president of the republic for four years." Bolsonaro denied any plans to leave the country, but said he would meet with Trump if he could get access to his passport, which police seized last year. He also said he had sought out the top US diplomat in Brazil to discuss Trump's tariff threat. In his decision, Moraes said the restrictions against Bolsonaro were due to accusations that the former president was making efforts to get the "head of state of a foreign nation" to interfere in Brazilian courts, which the judge cast as an attack on national sovereignty. Bolsonaro is on trial before Brazil's Supreme Court on charges of plotting a coup to stop President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from taking office in January 2023. Protesters wear masks depicting US President Donald Trump and former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on 18 July 2025. Photo: Nelson Almeida / AFP Trump has in recent weeks pressed Brazil to stop the legal case against Bolsonaro, saying that his ally was the victim of a "witch hunt". The US president said last week he would impose a 50 percent tariff on Brazilian goods from 1 August in a letter that opened with criticism of the Bolsonaro trial. Trump on Thursday shared on Truth Social a letter he sent to Bolsonaro. "I have seen the terrible treatment you are receiving at the hands of an unjust system turned against you. This trial should end immediately!" he wrote. Moraes wrote in his decision that the higher tariffs threatened by Trump were aimed at creating a serious economic crisis in Brazil to interfere in the country's judicial system. Bolsonaro was also prohibited from contacting key allies, including his son Eduardo Bolsonaro, a Brazilian congressman who has been working in Washington to drum up support for his father. Bolsonaro told Reuters he had been talking to his son almost daily, denying any concerted US lobbying effort on his behalf. He said he expected his son to seek US citizenship to avoid returning to Brazil. A five-judge panel of Supreme Court judges reviewed and upheld Moraes' decision on Friday afternoon. - Reuters
Reuters
3 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Brazil court orders raids, restraints on Bolsonaro for Trump collusion
BRASILIA, July 18 (Reuters) - Brazil's Supreme Court issued search warrants and restraining orders against former President Jair Bolsonaro on Friday, banning him from contacting foreign officials over allegations he had courted the interference of U.S. President Donald Trump. Federal police raided Bolsonaro's home and put an ankle monitor on him, an escalation in the legal pressure he is already facing and that Trump has tried to relieve with a steep tariff on Brazilian goods. Bolsonaro told Reuters that he believed the court orders were a reaction to Trump's criticism of his trial before the Supreme Court. The court's crackdown on Bolsonaro added to evidence that Trump's tactics are backfiring in Brazil, compounding trouble for his ideological ally and rallying public support behind a defiant leftist government. Bolsonaro was banned from contacting foreign officials, using social media or approaching embassies, according to the decision issued by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who cited a "concrete possibility" of him fleeing the country. In an interview with Reuters at his party's headquarters on Friday, Bolsonaro called Moraes a "dictator" and described the latest court orders as acts of "cowardice." "I feel supreme humiliation," he said, when asked how he felt about wearing the ankle monitor. "I am 70 years old, I was president of the republic for four years." Bolsonaro denied any plans to leave the country, but said he would meet with Trump if he could get access to his passport, which police seized last year. He also said he had sought out the top U.S. diplomat in Brazil to discuss Trump's tariff threat. In his decision, Moraes said the restrictions against Bolsonaro were due to accusations that the former president was making efforts to get the "head of state of a foreign nation" to interfere in Brazilian courts, which the judge cast as an attack on national sovereignty. Bolsonaro is on trial before Brazil's Supreme Court on charges of plotting a coup to stop President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from taking office in January 2023. Trump has in recent weeks pressed Brazil to stop the legal case against Bolsonaro, saying that his ally was the victim of a "witch hunt". The U.S. president said last week he would impose a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods from August 1, in a letter that opened with criticism of the Bolsonaro trial. Trump on Thursday shared on Truth Social a letter he sent to Bolsonaro. "I have seen the terrible treatment you are receiving at the hands of an unjust system turned against you. This trial should end immediately!" he wrote. Moraes wrote in his decision that the higher tariffs threatened by Trump were aimed at creating a serious economic crisis in Brazil to interfere in the country's judicial system. Bolsonaro was also prohibited from contacting key allies including his son Eduardo Bolsonaro, a Brazilian congressman who has been working in Washington to drum up support his father. Bolsonaro told Reuters he had been talking to his son almost daily, denying any concerted U.S. lobbying effort on his behalf. He said he expected his son to seek U.S. citizenship to avoid returning to Brazil. A five-judge panel of Supreme Court judges reviewed and upheld Moraes' decision on Friday afternoon.
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Brazil court orders raids on ex-president Bolsonaro for colluding with Trump
Brazil's Supreme Court issued search warrants and restraining orders against former president Jair Bolsonaro on Friday, banning him from contacting foreign officials for allegedly courting the interference of US President Donald Trump Federal police raided Bolsonaro's home and he was ordered to wear an ankle monitor, adding the legal pressure that Trump has tried to relieve with a steep tariff on Brazilian goods. The court's crackdown on Bolsonaro added to signs that Trump's tactics could backfire in Brazil , compounding trouble for his ideological ally and rallying public support behind a defiant leftist government. Bolsonaro was also banned from contacting foreign officials, using social media and approaching embassies, according to the decision issued by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who cited a 'concrete possibility' of him fleeing the country. He added that Bolsonaro had asked the 'head of state of a foreign nation' to interfere in the Brazilian courts, which he characterised as an attack on national sovereignty. Protesters in São Paulo, Brazil, demand the arrest of former president Jair Bolsonaro and oppose Trump's decision to investigate digital trade and electronic payment services in Brazil. Photo: Reuters Bolsonaro is on trial before Brazil's Supreme Court on charges of plotting a coup to stop his rival, President President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva from taking office in January 2023.
