Brazil Supreme Court Orders Heightened Security Around Bolsonaro's Home

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes has ordered increased security around President Jair Bolsonaro's home in Brasilia, including 24-hour police patrols, due to concerns over an increased flight risk as Bolsonaro faces trial for allegedly orchestrating a coup to overturn his 2022 electoral defeat. Bolsonaro was placed under house arrest earlier this month after failing to comply with court-imposed restraining orders designed to prevent trial interference. Authorities cited the discovery of a draft asylum request letter to Argentina from 2024 found on Bolsonaro's phone as a factor raising flight concerns, though his legal defense contends this does not prove a flight risk. The trial's final arguments are set to begin in early September, with Bolsonaro denying the charges and facing up to 40 years in prison if convicted. His son Eduardo Bolsonaro, a congressman living in the U.S., has been lobbying on his behalf in Washington, while the case has drawn criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump, who accuses the Brazilian judiciary of a politically motivated witch-hunt and has imposed tariffs and sanctions related to the trial. Justice Moraes emphasized that the police presence should not disrupt Bolsonaro's daily routine or disturb neighbors.