Legal representatives of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro have denied that he violated a Supreme Court-ordered social media ban, after Justice Alexandre de Moraes accused him of breaching the order and demanded a formal explanation.
In a document submitted on Tuesday, Bolsonaro’s lawyers argued that clips of a recent media interview shared on social media were beyond their client’s control and should not be considered a violation. They urged the court to clarify the scope of the ban, especially whether it prohibits speaking to the press altogether.
The social media restrictions, along with an ankle bracelet order and other sanctions, were imposed by Justice Moraes on Friday, amid an ongoing investigation into allegations that Bolsonaro plotted a coup attempt. Moraes alleges that Bolsonaro sought interference from U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently tied steep tariffs on Brazilian goods to what he described as a “witch hunt” against the former president.
On Monday, Moraes accused Bolsonaro of defying the court by participating in an interview with journalists. He noted that excerpts were later published on social media by news outlets and gave Bolsonaro’s legal team 24 hours to explain—warning that noncompliance could trigger an arrest warrant.
In response, Bolsonaro’s lawyers insisted that third-party sharing of interview content is not under their client’s control and cannot be equated to direct use of social media. They emphasised that Bolsonaro would refrain from further public statements until the court provides explicit clarification.
Legal experts remain divided over whether the ban, especially as revised on Monday to include third-party use, extends to interviews published on media platforms.
The case continues to unfold as Bolsonaro faces mounting legal scrutiny over his conduct following the 2022 election and the broader implications of alleged coup plotting.
Reuters/s.s