The cases against Jair Bolsonaro, from the coup plot to his 27-year sentence

Gone quiet · last story Jul 18, 2026

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was convicted in September 2025 of attempting a coup to stay in power after losing the 2022 election and was sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison, the first time a Brazilian president had been criminally convicted for trying to subvert democracy.[1] After the Supreme Court rejected his appeal, he was arrested on suspicion of plotting to escape and began serving his sentence in November 2025.[2][3][4] The case strained relations with the United States, which sanctioned the justice overseeing it.[5]

What this arc covers

The criminal cases against former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro after his 2022 election defeat and the January 8, 2023 riots in Brasília: the congressional report recommending charges, the police investigation of the alleged coup plot, including the plan presented to military chiefs and the alleged plot to kill President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the seizure of his passport and his stay at the Hungarian embassy, the separate cases over falsified COVID-19 vaccination records and undeclared Saudi jewelry, his indictment and formal charges, the Supreme Court trial, his ankle monitor and house arrest, his conviction in September 2025 and 27-year sentence, the rejected appeal, his arrest and imprisonment, the rallies for him and the protests against an amnesty, the US sanctions on Justice Alexandre de Moraes, and the cases of allies and family, including the arrest in the US of former intelligence chief Alexandre Ramagem and his son Eduardo's conviction for seeking US pressure on the court.

Earliest story we hold Oct 17, 2023 · 31 stories · 127 independent sources (counted once each) · 1005 days

Part ofBrazilJair BolsonaroDonald TrumpSaudi ArabiaArgentinaBrazilian Supreme CourtSão PauloFlorida

Background

After losing the 2022 election, Bolsonaro left Brazil for Florida rather than attend the inauguration of his successor, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and he denied involvement in the January 8 riots that followed. In October 2023, a congressional panel made up mostly of Lula's allies accused him of instigating the riots and recommended that he be charged with attempting a coup; Bolsonaro called the report biased.[6] Coverage on this site begins in October 2023.

In early 2024, police confiscated Bolsonaro's passports as he faced multiple criminal investigations, then investigated a two-night stay he made at the Hungarian embassy in Brasília, where he could not have been arrested.[7] Two top military leaders told police that he had presented them with a plan to remain in power after the 2022 election, and that they refused and warned they would arrest him if he tried it.[8] Police separately him for allegedly falsifying his COVID-19 vaccination certificate and for money laundering over undeclared diamonds he received from Saudi Arabia.[9]

In November 2024, police arrested five suspects accused of plotting to kill Lula, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin and Justice Alexandre de Moraes as part of the coup plan,[10] and indicted Bolsonaro and 36 others on charges of attempting a coup.[11] In February 2025, Brazil's attorney general formally charged Bolsonaro and 33 others,[12] and in March a Supreme Court panel unanimously ruled that he and seven associates would stand trial.[13]

In July 2025, the US Treasury sanctioned Moraes, who was overseeing the case, as President Donald Trump prepared 50% on Brazil, in part over the prosecution.[5] In August, the Supreme Court placed Bolsonaro under house arrest for breaking a social media ban.[14] A majority of a five-justice panel found him guilty in September,[1] and the panel unanimously rejected his appeal in November.[2] Federal police arrested him that month over suspicion that he was plotting to escape,[3] and he began serving his sentence days later.[4]

In June 2026, the Supreme Court convicted his son Eduardo Bolsonaro of coercion for asking the US government to use tariffs and sanctions to secure lenience for his father, and sentenced him to four years and two months in prison.[15] In July, with Bolsonaro under house arrest, a justice rejected his lawyers' request for a visit from Argentina's President Javier Milei.[16]

Supporting stories (16)
  1. Bolsonaro's political influence in Brazil could endure despite his conviction
  2. Brazil's Supreme Court panel unanimously rejects Bolsonaro's appeal, upholding 27-year sentence
  3. Brazil's ex-president Bolsonaro arrested over alleged plot to escape and avoid 27-year prison term
  4. Bolsonaro ordered to begin serving 27-year prison sentence for attempted coup
  5. U.S. sanctions Brazilian judge targeted by Trump over Bolsonaro case
  6. Congressional report in Brazil recommends charges for Bolsonaro over Jan. 8 insurrection
  7. Brazilian police launch investigation into Bolsonaro's 2-night sleepover at Hungarian embassy
  8. Brazil’s ex-president Bolsonaro presented coup plot to military leaders, court documents allege
  9. Brazil's Bolsonaro indicted for alleged money laundering for undeclared diamonds from Saudi Arabia
  10. Brazil arrests five suspects in alleged Lula assassination plot
  11. Former Brazilian president indicted over alleged coup plot
  12. Brazil's Bolsonaro charged in alleged coup plot
  13. Brazil ex-President Bolsonaro will stand trial over an alleged coup plan. Here’s what happens next
  14. Brazil’s Supreme Court orders the house arrest of former President Bolsonaro, a Trump ally
  15. Brazil’s top court convicts son of former President Bolsonaro of coercion
  16. Brazil's top court denies Bolsonaro home visit by Argentina's Milei

Overview updated Oct 4, 2026

Part of Brazil: Bolsonaro, Lula and Trump

  1. The cases against Jair Bolsonaro, from the coup plot to his 27-year sentenceThis arcOct 17, 2023 – Jul 18, 2026
  2. Trump's 50% tariff on Brazil, which he tied to Jair Bolsonaro's trialJul 9, 2025 – Jul 16, 2026
  3. Brazil's 2026 presidential election: Lula vs. Flávio BolsonaroOct 23, 2025 – Oct 4, 2026

Where it standsnewest first · each bar runs left to right by leaning

Jul 18– 202026Brazil's top court denies Bolsonaro home visit by Argentina's Milei7 articles · 7 independent sources
0 left, 2 center, 2 right
Jun 172026Brazil’s top court convicts son of former President Bolsonaro of coercion5 articles · 5 independent sources
1 left, 1 center, 1 right
Apr 13– 142026Former Brazilian spy chief who fled country following coup plot conviction arrested by ICE agents in US8 articles · 7 independent sources
1 left, 1 center, 3 right

Key momentsthe most covered; every story is below

  1. Mar 19, 2024Brazil's Bolsonaro Indicted Over Alleged Falsification of His Own Vaccination Data23 articles · 23 independent sources
  2. Jul 4 – 5, 2024Brazil's Bolsonaro indicted for alleged money laundering for undeclared diamonds from Saudi Arabia24 articles · 20 independent sources
  3. Feb 19, 2025Brazil's Bolsonaro charged in alleged coup plot41 articles · 32 independent sources
  4. Mar 25 – 27, 2025Brazil ex-President Bolsonaro will stand trial over an alleged coup plan. Here’s what happens next33 articles · 26 independent sources
  5. Aug 4 – 5, 2025Brazil’s Supreme Court orders the house arrest of former President Bolsonaro, a Trump ally39 articles · 31 independent sources
  6. Sep 11 – 13, 2025Bolsonaro's political influence in Brazil could endure despite his conviction61 articles · 46 independent sources
  7. Nov 22 – 23, 2025Brazil's ex-president Bolsonaro arrested over alleged plot to escape and avoid 27-year prison term29 articles · 28 independent sources

Who covered it, over timeindependent sources per week, by side

Oct 2023May 2024Nov 2024Jun 2025Dec 2025Jul 2026

LeftCenterRight

Point at or tap a week to see its count by side.

Every week as a table
Week ofLeftCenterRightArticles
Oct 16, 20235209
Feb 5, 202423110
Feb 26, 202412110
Mar 11, 202427018
Mar 18, 202495328
Mar 25, 20240316
Jul 1, 202451623
Jul 8, 202413015
Nov 18, 2024713431
Nov 25, 20242307
Dec 9, 20240307
Jan 13, 20252127
Feb 17, 2025412238
Mar 24, 202558430
Apr 21, 20251114
Jun 23, 20250219
Jul 14, 202532210
Jul 28, 20250214
Aug 4, 2025511335
Aug 18, 20253219
Sep 1, 202524012
Sep 8, 20251719456
Sep 15, 20251102
Sep 22, 20251204
Nov 3, 20250305
Nov 17, 2025312331
Nov 24, 202525116
Apr 13, 20261135
Jun 15, 20261113
Jul 13, 20260216
Jul 20, 20260011

Stories before June 28, 2026 come from archived pages, so who covered them is limited to the outlets we recovered for that period.

28% left · 61% center · 11% right of 127 independent sources among the outlets we track, across 31 stories.

Every storyoldest first

  1. October 2023

    Oct 17– 19Congressional report in Brazil recommends charges for Bolsonaro over Jan. 8 insurrection10 articles · 10 independent sources
    5 left, 2 center, 0 right

  2. February 2024

    Feb 8Brazil’s former president Bolsonaro under investigation in probe into attempted coup10 articles · 10 independent sources
    2 left, 3 center, 1 right
  3. Feb 26Supporters of Brazil’s Bolsonaro stage huge demonstration to defend him amid investigations14 articles · 12 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 1 right

  4. March 2024

    Mar 15– 16Brazil’s ex-president Bolsonaro presented coup plot to military leaders, court documents allege19 articles · 17 independent sources
    2 left, 7 center, 0 right
  5. Mar 19Brazil's Bolsonaro Indicted Over Alleged Falsification of His Own Vaccination Data23 articles · 23 independent sources
    8 left, 5 center, 3 right
  6. Mar 20Several probes target Brazil’s Bolsonaro, but his COVID decisions are catching up to him first7 articles · 7 independent sources
    3 left, 0 center, 0 right
  7. Mar 26Brazilian police launch investigation into Bolsonaro's 2-night sleepover at Hungarian embassy7 articles · 7 independent sources
    0 left, 3 center, 1 right

  8. July 2024

    Jul 4– 5Brazil's Bolsonaro indicted for alleged money laundering for undeclared diamonds from Saudi Arabia24 articles · 20 independent sources
    5 left, 1 center, 6 right
  9. Jul 9Brazil's police say Bolsonaro embezzled $1.2 million in undeclared jewelry from Saudi Arabia16 articles · 11 independent sources
    1 left, 3 center, 0 right

  10. November 2024

    Nov 19Brazil arrests five suspects in alleged Lula assassination plot6 articles · 6 independent sources
    1 left, 3 center, 0 right
  11. Nov 21– 27Brazil police report: Bolsonaro planned and participated in a 2022 coup plot23 articles · 20 independent sources
    7 left, 7 center, 1 right
  12. Nov 21– 22Former Brazilian president indicted over alleged coup plot14 articles · 14 independent sources
    2 left, 7 center, 3 right

  13. December 2024

    Dec 14Brazilian police arrest ex-Bolsonaro cabinet member in alleged coup plot investigation9 articles · 9 independent sources
    0 left, 3 center, 0 right

  14. January 2025

    Jan 16– 17Brazil Supreme Court nixes Bolsonaro’s effort to attend Trump inauguration9 articles · 8 independent sources
    2 left, 1 center, 2 right

  15. February 2025

    Feb 19Brazil's Bolsonaro charged in alleged coup plot41 articles · 32 independent sources
    4 left, 12 center, 2 right

  16. March 2025

    Mar 25– 27Brazil ex-President Bolsonaro will stand trial over an alleged coup plan. Here’s what happens next33 articles · 26 independent sources
    5 left, 8 center, 4 right

  17. April 2025

  18. June 2025

  19. July 2025

    Jul 18Brazil's former President Bolsonaro ordered to wear an electronic ankle monitor12 articles · 10 independent sources
    3 left, 2 center, 2 right
  20. Jul 30U.S. sanctions Brazilian judge targeted by Trump over Bolsonaro case5 articles · 5 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 1 right

  21. August 2025

    Aug 4– 5Brazil’s Supreme Court orders the house arrest of former President Bolsonaro, a Trump ally39 articles · 31 independent sources
    5 left, 11 center, 3 right
  22. Aug 21Brazilian police accuse Bolsonaro of planning to flee to Argentina and seek asylum13 articles · 12 independent sources
    3 left, 2 center, 1 right

  23. September 2025

    Sep 2Brazil’s Bolsonaro on trial: house arrest, coup charges, and US pressure explained14 articles · 12 independent sources
    2 left, 4 center, 0 right
  24. Sep 11– 13Bolsonaro's political influence in Brazil could endure despite his conviction61 articles · 46 independent sources
    17 left, 19 center, 4 right
  25. Sep 21– 22'No amnesty!' Brazilians protest against bid to pardon Bolsonaro8 articles · 8 independent sources
    2 left, 3 center, 0 right

  26. November 2025

    Nov 7Brazil's Supreme Court panel unanimously rejects Bolsonaro's appeal, upholding 27-year sentence6 articles · 5 independent sources
    0 left, 3 center, 0 right
  27. Nov 22– 23Brazil's ex-president Bolsonaro arrested over alleged plot to escape and avoid 27-year prison term29 articles · 28 independent sources
    3 left, 10 center, 3 right
  28. Nov 22– 26Bolsonaro ordered to begin serving 27-year prison sentence for attempted coup23 articles · 18 independent sources
    2 left, 7 center, 1 right

  29. April 2026

    Apr 13– 14Former Brazilian spy chief who fled country following coup plot conviction arrested by ICE agents in US8 articles · 7 independent sources
    1 left, 1 center, 3 right

  30. June 2026

    Jun 17Brazil’s top court convicts son of former President Bolsonaro of coercion5 articles · 5 independent sources
    1 left, 1 center, 1 right

  31. July 2026

    Jul 18– 20Brazil's top court denies Bolsonaro home visit by Argentina's Milei7 articles · 7 independent sources
    0 left, 2 center, 2 right