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Brazil's federal police searched Jair Bolsonaro's home over a firearms registration discrepancy. The search found nothing, but it keeps his legal troubles and political fallout in focus.
Riodejaneiro,UPDATED: Jul 8, 2026 23:58 IST
Brazil's federal police searched convicted former president Jair Bolsonaro's home on Wednesday as part of an inquiry into a discrepancy involving firearms registered in his name, but found nothing, according to his lawyer and a police official.
Bolsonaro is under house arrest in Brasilia and is serving a 27-year sentence for attempting a coup after his 2022 election defeat to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The case has also drawn international attention after US President Donald Trump linked tariffs on Brazilian goods to what he called a "witch hunt" against his ally.
Bolsonaro's lawyer, Joao Henrique Nascimento de Freitas, said on X: "I just left the residence of (Bolsonaro) after witnessing yet another search and seizure by the federal police. Nothing was found." A federal police official, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly, also confirmed that nothing was seized.
The Brazilian Supreme Court ordered the search after it emerged that there was a discrepancy between the number of firearms legally registered in Bolsonaro's name and the number handed over to the relevant authorities, according to a court decision signed on Tuesday by Justice Alexandre de Moraes.
Last month, police seized a firearm owned by Bolsonaro that was found with a military officer at a checkpoint. On Friday, De Moraes allowed Bolsonaro to remain under house arrest despite that incident.
A panel of Supreme Court justices convicted Bolsonaro in September, and he began serving his sentence in November. In March, he was granted house arrest because of ill health.
One of Bolsonaro's sons, Eduardo, was convicted this year for illegally lobbying the US government to threaten Brazilian officials in an attempt to stop his father's trial.
Many of the tariffs imposed by Trump were later lifted. However, the Trump administration has recently threatened more tariffs over what it described as unfair commercial practices, even though the US runs a large trade surplus with Brazil.
The latest search of Bolsonaro's home follows the court's scrutiny of firearms linked to him, while his coup conviction, house arrest and the international political reaction continue to keep the case in focus.
With PTI Inputs
- Ends
Published By:
India Today Web Desk
Published On:
Jul 8, 2026 23:58 IST
