Official announcements from Brazilian legal authorities or media reports

Brazil's Supreme Court Denies Bolsonaro's Request to Attend Trump's Inauguration on January 20, 2025; Michelle Bolsonaro to Represent Him

Jan 16, 2025, 04:26 PM

Brazil's Supreme Court, through Justice Alexandre de Moraes, has denied former President Jair Bolsonaro's request to travel to the United States to attend Donald Trump's inauguration on January 20, 2025. Moraes cited the risk of Bolsonaro fleeing the country as the reason for denying the temporary return of his passport, which was seized by the Federal Police in February 2024 amid investigations into an alleged coup attempt. Bolsonaro had claimed he received an invitation to the event, but Moraes stated that the defense failed to provide sufficient proof of the invitation. The decision follows a recommendation from Brazil's Prosecutor General, Paulo Gonet, who argued against Bolsonaro's travel due to lack of public interest. Bolsonaro has expressed his intention to appeal the decision, describing it as a 'grave disappointment' and accusing the judiciary of political persecution. In response to the ruling, Bolsonaro announced that his wife, Michelle Bolsonaro, would represent him at the inauguration.