Jair Bolsonaro says ankle monitor damage caused by paranoia

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who was found guilty of plotting a coup, blamed drug-induced “paranoia” for damage to his ankle monitor a day after he was taken into custody from house arrest.

He admitted at a hearing in Brasília that he tried to open the monitor with a soldering iron until he “came to his senses” on Friday, according to court documents. He said he had no intention of running away.

Authorities say the 70-year-old right-wing politician was detained because he was a flight risk ahead of a vigil held by supporters in front of his home. He will remain in custody.

In September, Bolsonaro sentenced to more than 27 years in prison For the coup plan.

Bolsonaro is being held at a police station in the capital.

The legal woes have drawn the ire of right-wing populist US President Donald Trump, prompting him to impose a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.

Bolsonaro was found guilty of leading a conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the 2022 election to leftist rival Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Supreme Court justices said they were aware of a plot to assassinate Lula and his vice presidential candidate Geraldo Alckmin and arrest and execute Moraes, who oversaw Bolsonaro’s trial.

The conspiracy failed to gain the support of the army and air force commanders. Lula was sworn in without incident on January 1, 2023.

But a week later, on January 8, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed government buildings in Brasília. Approximately 1,500 people were detained as a result of the intervention of security forces.

Judges found that the rioters were incited by Bolsonaro and that Bolsonaro’s plan was for the military to step in and bring him back to power.

Bolsonaro is also barred from running for public office until 2060, eight years after the end of his sentence.

The former president called the lawsuit a “witch hunt” designed to prevent him from participating in the 2026 presidential election.