Brazilian authorities have placed former President Jair Bolsonaro under house arrest as part of ongoing proceedings related to allegations that he conspired to overturn the 2022 presidential election. The detention was ordered on Monday, August 5, by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who cited Bolsonaro's failure to adhere to earlier judicial restrictions.

Bolsonaro faces charges accusing him of collaborating with numerous allies in an attempt to subvert the electoral victory of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The court has imposed strict conditions on Bolsonaro, including a ban on receiving visitors except for lawyers and court-approved individuals, as well as prohibiting the use of cell phones, either directly or indirectly.

A spokesperson for Bolsonaro confirmed his house arrest and the confiscation of his phone later on Monday. Brazil's federal police acknowledged executing the Supreme Court's directives but did not explicitly identify Bolsonaro as the target.

The measures come amid accusations that Bolsonaro sought support from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently linked increased tariffs on Brazilian products to what he described as a "witch hunt" against Bolsonaro. Trump's administration issued sanctions against Justice Moraes in late July, criticizing the judge for authorizing arbitrary pre-trial detentions and restricting free speech.

The investigation into Bolsonaro's actions follows more than two years of inquiries into his involvement in an election denial campaign. This campaign escalated into violent riots by Bolsonaro supporters in Brasilia in January 2023, drawing parallels to the U.S. Capitol storming after Trump's 2020 election loss.

Unlike the U.S. legal system, where major cases related to Trump have largely stalled, Brazilian authorities have advanced swiftly against Bolsonaro, potentially jeopardizing his political future and fracturing his right-wing faction.

Bolsonaro's son, Congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro, relocated to the United States at the start of his father's trial to garner political support in Washington. He asserted that his presence influenced Trump's decision to impose tariffs on Brazil.

In a letter made public last month, Trump expressed support for Bolsonaro, denouncing his treatment by the Brazilian judicial system and calling for an immediate end to the trial.

Despite these efforts, Bolsonaro's situation appears to be deteriorating domestically, with increasing backing for Lula da Silva's administration. Bolsonaro has publicly criticized Justice Moraes, labeling him a "dictator" and condemning the restrictions as acts of "cowardice."