A panel of Brazilian Supreme Court justices has sentenced former president Jair Bolsonaro to 27 years and three months in prison for trying to stay in power through a coup after losing the 2022 election.
Bolsonaro, who led Brazil from 2019 to 2022, was found guilty on five charges by four of the five judges on the panel. On Thursday, Justices Cármen Lúcia and Cristiano Zanin cast the final votes to convict him. One justice, Luiz Fux, disagreed and voted to clear Bolsonaro of all charges.
The former far-right leader is currently under house arrest in Brasília. His lawyers say they will appeal the decision to the full Supreme Court of 11 justices.
The case is expected to deepen Brazil’s political divisions and could strain relations with the United States. Before the final sentence was announced, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters he was “very unhappy” about the conviction and called the trial a “witch hunt.” Trump also suggested a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods might be linked to his ally’s legal troubles.
Bolsonaro did not appear in court, denying any wrongdoing through his lawyers. His supporters and opponents have taken to the streets, showing how divided the country remains.
The five charges against Bolsonaro included attempting a coup, belonging to an armed criminal group, trying to overthrow democracy, and threatening the state’s property and heritage.
His son, Eduardo Bolsonaro, posted on social media calling for amnesty from Congress rather than mentioning the conviction. Despite his legal problems, Bolsonaro is still a powerful political figure. He has already been banned from running for office until 2030 in a separate case, but is expected to pick a successor to challenge President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the next election.
Lawmakers who back Bolsonaro may now push for amnesty in Congress.
