The historic trial of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro entered its final phase on Tuesday, as the Supreme Court began hearing closing arguments in the case accusing the 70-year-old right-wing leader of orchestrating a plot to remain in power after losing the 2022 reelection.
The final stage of the trial is expected to conclude by September 12 and is unfolding under the scrutiny of U.S. President Donald Trump, whose administration has closely monitored the proceedings. Trump denounced the trial as a “witch hunt” against his Brazilian ally, according to Reuters.
Trump has leveraged the case to justify 50% tariffs on a range of Brazilian goods, sanctioned Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, and revoked visas for most of his colleagues.
During Tuesday’s opening statement, Moraes characterized the actions of Bolsonaro and his associates as an attempt by a “criminal organization” to coerce the Supreme Court into submission under foreign influence. He emphasized that such attempts would not sway the court, asserting:
“National sovereignty cannot, must not, and will never be mocked, negotiated, or extorted.”
Meanwhile, Bolsonaro’s son, Congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro, relocated to the U.S. in March to campaign in defense of his father, taking credit for Trump’s retaliatory measures against Brazil and Moraes. Both Bolsonaro and his son are now under investigation for allegedly encouraging U.S. interference in the Brazilian judicial process.
