Brazilian Supreme Federal Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes has ordered the Federal District police to place former President Jair Bolsonaro under 24-hour surveillance. The decision, announced on August 26, follows what the judge described as continuous attempts by Bolsonaro’s son, Congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro, to interfere with his father’s trial.
According to Moraes, Eduardo Bolsonaro has intensified his efforts to challenge the Brazilian judicial system ahead of the Supreme Court hearing. The judge stated that the former president had been improperly using social media accounts belonging to his three sons and other congressional allies to disseminate content that “clearly encourages and incites attacks on the Supreme Federal Court and openly supports foreign interference in the Brazilian judicial system.”
As a result of these actions, Moraes had previously placed Bolsonaro under house arrest and prohibited him from leaving his residence. The judge indicated that Bolsonaro’s conduct necessitated “harsher measures to prevent him from committing further crimes.”
The first hearing in Bolsonaro’s case is scheduled for September 2.