A Brazilian supreme court justice has ordered the freezing of the accounts and assets of Eduardo Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is being investigated for his activities in the US. Justice Alexandre de Moraes issued the confidential decision on Saturday after Eduardo claimed it was an “arbitrary” action.
Eduardo, who has been in Washington to gather support for his father, stated on social media that the decision was unfair. CNN Brasil reported that the measure was part of an investigation into Eduardo’s actions in the US.
Donald Trump’s imposition of high tariffs on Brazilian goods ties to what he calls a “witch-hunt” against Bolsonaro. The US president links this to the former Brazilian president’s case.
Moraes also gave Bolsonaro 24 hours to explain why he breached restrictions on his use of social media or face arrest. The court previously ordered Bolsonaro to wear an ankle bracelet and banned him from social media due to allegations of seeking Trump’s interference.
Bolsonaro’s lawyers did not immediately respond to requests for comment outside business hours. Bolsonaro denounced Moraes’ decision as “cowardice” and vowed to continue engaging with the press.
The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, called Moraes’ court orders a “political witch-hunt” and revoked visas for his allies and their families.
The court’s actions against Bolsonaro suggest Trump’s tactics may be backfiring in Brazil, adding to the challenges faced by his ideological ally and garnering public support for the leftist government.
Moraes’ ruling raised questions about whether Bolsonaro can speak to journalists, leading to debate about the extent of the restrictions in Brazil.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/22/brazil-court-freezes-bolsonaro-sons-assets-as-ex-president-threatened-with-arrest-over-social-media-use
