Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro, who ruled from 2019 to 2022, was taken into custody on Saturday, November 22, 2025. The Supreme Court declared him a high flight risk after he damaged his ankle monitor to try to escape house arrest. Bolsonaro is appealing his 27-year prison sentence for attempting to block Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from becoming president in 2022. In a stunning video released by the court, Bolsonaro admits to using a soldering iron on the ankle bracelet “out of curiosity.” The clip showed the device badly burned but still strapped to his ankle. Judge Alexandre de Moraes explained that this was a preventive move while the final appeals are ongoing. Bolsonaro lives in a fancy condo in Brasilia and has been under house arrest since August. The judge warned that a planned rally outside Bolsonaro’s home, called by his eldest son Flavio Bolsonaro, could cause chaos and help the former leader escape. Flavio urged supporters to "fight for your country." The judge tied Bolsonaro’s ankle monitor damage to this plan, saying it happened early Saturday to support the escape attempt amid the confusion from the protest. Flavio Bolsonaro livestreamed a powerful warning to the Supreme Court: "If something happens to my father... it's your fault." He also suggested his father may have burned the monitor in "desperation" or "shame" because of having to wear it around family. The court also noted Bolsonaro’s condo is near the U.S. embassy, raising fears he might try to gain asylum. Bolsonaro is a former Army captain and a close ally of ex-U.S. President Donald Trump, who called the trial a "witch hunt" and expressed regret about Bolsonaro’s arrest, saying, "That's too bad." After detention, Bolsonaro was taken to a federal police center in Brasilia. A small cell with air conditioning, TV, and a mini-fridge was shown in a video, signaling decent conditions for now. Outside, emotions ran wild: a group of women celebrated by popping sparkling wine bottles, while some supporters draped in Brazil’s green and yellow flag called the arrest "political persecution." High school teacher Ana Denise Sousa said with joy, "The biggest scoundrel, the worst guy... who [attempted] a coup... now he's going to pay." Meanwhile, rideshare driver Alessandro Goncalves de Almeida defended Bolsonaro, blaming politics for his arrest. Bolsonaro’s legal troubles leave Brazil’s right-wing voters without a strong leader ahead of the 2026 presidential elections. Lula, 80, plans to run for a fourth term. Bolsonaro’s team plans to appeal his detention, saying it risks his life due to lingering health issues from a stabbing during his 2018 campaign. During his presidency, Bolsonaro won praise for economic moves but faced sharp criticism over record Amazon deforestation and downplaying COVID-19 as a "little flu." In September, he was convicted of leading a criminal group to keep power illegally. This plot allegedly involved plans to kill Lula, his Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, and Judge Moraes himself.