Brazil Police Search Bolsonaro Home in Court-Ordered Weapons Probe
SAO PAULO-Brazil’s federal police searched the home of former President Jair Bolsonaro on Wednesday for weapons and ammunition under an order authorized by a Supreme Court justice, but found nothing during the operation, one of the former leader’s lawyers said.
Lawyer Joao Henrique de Freitas said in a post on X that Bolsonaro’s legal team had already informed authorities of the location of all firearms linked to the former president before the search took place.
“The defense had already previously informed the whereabouts of all the weapons. Result: Nothing was found,” de Freitas wrote.
The search was first reported by newspaper Estadao, which said the operation had been authorized by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes.
The search comes as Bolsonaro continues serving a 27-year prison sentence imposed after he was convicted of plotting a coup following his defeat in Brazil’s 2022 presidential election to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
The 71-year-old former president has been serving the sentence since November. Last week, Justice Moraes authorized him to remain under house arrest because of ongoing health concerns stemming from injuries sustained in a knife attack during his 2018 presidential campaign.
The latest police operation follows another firearms-related incident involving Bolsonaro’s security detail. Last month, police seized a firearm belonging to the former president during a checkpoint inspection involving one of his security personnel.
Following that episode, Prosecutor General Paulo Gonet recommended that Bolsonaro remain under house arrest. His opinion was requested by Justice Moraes as authorities reviewed the implications of the firearm seizure.
Brazil’s Supreme Court has played a central role in overseeing legal proceedings involving the former president since investigations into alleged efforts to overturn the results of the 2022 election began.
Wednesday’s search did not result in the discovery or seizure of any weapons or ammunition, according to Bolsonaro’s lawyer. Authorities had not issued further public details about the operation or indicated whether additional investigative measures would follow.
The search marks the latest development in the legal cases surrounding Bolsonaro, whose post-presidential political and legal challenges have continued alongside court proceedings related to the aftermath of Brazil’s 2022 election.
