Buckle up, folks—Brazil’s judicial system just dropped a hammer on 10 individuals tied to a scheme to prop up former President Jair Bolsonaro after his 2022 election loss.

On Saturday, a Supreme Court judge in Brazil slapped house arrest orders on these 10, all previously convicted for their roles in a desperate bid to keep Bolsonaro in power, according to ABC. 

This isn’t just a local dust-up; it’s a saga with international ripples, especially after a high-profile extradition from Paraguay and shifting U.S. policies toward Brazil’s legal maneuvers.

Bolsonaro Allies Face Tightened Restrictions

The decision came straight from Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes, who’s clearly not playing games with those convicted of plotting against Brazil’s democratic process.

These 10 folks were already under lighter restrictions—like ankle monitors or nighttime curfews—but house arrest is a serious escalation, signaling zero tolerance for coup antics.

Among those now confined is Filipe Martins, a former adviser to Bolsonaro, showing this crackdown spares no one close to the ex-president’s inner circle.

Extradition of Police Commander Sparks Action

Hours before the house arrest orders, authorities in Paraguay nabbed and extradited Silvinei Vasques, former head of Brazil’s Federal Highway Police, back to Brazilian soil on Friday night.

Vasques had slipped into Paraguay on the sly, reportedly ripping off his ankle monitor on Thursday and driving a rental car across the border before trying to jet off to El Salvador with questionable documents.

Talk about a getaway gone wrong—his capture seems to have lit a fire under Judge de Moraes to tighten the screws on other conspirators.

Bolsonaro’s Conviction Looms Large

Let’s not forget the bigger picture: Bolsonaro himself was convicted in September and handed a hefty 27-year prison sentence for attempting to orchestrate a coup after his 2022 defeat.

Brazil, which clawed its way back to democracy in 1985 after decades of military rule, is watching these trials with bated breath, and for good reason—democracy isn’t a game to be gambled with.

The stakes are sky-high, and every move by the judiciary sends a signal that no one, not even a former president, is above accountability.

U.S. Policy Shifts Add Intrigue

Across the ocean, U.S. President Donald Trump didn’t mince words, slamming the proceedings against Bolsonaro as a “witch hunt” and an “international disgrace.”

Trump initially retaliated with tariffs on Brazilian imports and sanctions on Judge de Moraes, but lately, the U.S. has dialed back, cutting tariffs on Brazilian beef and coffee in November and lifting sanctions on de Moraes and his wife earlier this month.

Perhaps this is less about ideology and more about pragmatic trade talks, showing even the toughest critics can pivot when dollars and cents are on the line.