Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro has attributed the damage he caused to his ankle monitor to 'paranoia' induced by medication. This statement follows his recent detention after being removed from house arrest.
During a hearing in Brasília, the 70-year-old politician recounted how he attempted to open the monitor with a soldering iron until he 'came to his senses.' Officials had previously identified him as a flight risk due to a gathering of his supporters near his home.
Back in September, Bolsonaro was sentenced to over 27 years in prison for orchestrating a coup plot following his election loss in 2022. He is currently being held in a police station and faces numerous legal challenges, including accusations of inciting a riot in January 2023 that resulted in the storming of government buildings by his supporters.
Despite his legal battles, Bolsonaro continues to label the judicial proceedings against him as a 'witch hunt' aimed at preventing his candidacy in the upcoming 2026 presidential elections. His controversial actions throughout and after his presidency have drawn reactions from various political figures, including a recent tariff response from US President Donald Trump against Brazilian imports.
