Jair Bolsonaro’s Defense Says He Did Not Know Son Published Support Letter

The legal team of former president Jair Bolsonaro submitted a petition to the Supreme Federal Court (STF) asserting that Bolsonaro “never knew” a handwritten letter he wrote would be posted on social media by his son, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro. The letter, read live by Flávio, urged supporters to back his pre‑candidacy for the presidency. Minister Alexandre de Moraes had earlier suspended Flávio’s visits to his father for 90 days, citing a breach of the court‑ordered restriction that bars Bolsonaro from using social networks, directly or through third parties. The petition asks the court to consider that Bolsonaro gave no prior instruction or consent for the publication and that he has complied with all precautionary measures imposed during his house‑arrest. Minister Moraes gave the Attorney General’s Office five days to respond and will decide whether the episode constitutes a violation that could lead to revoking Bolsonaro’s house‑arrest. In a related move, Bolsonaro’s defense also requested that Moraes postpone Flávio’s scheduled deposition in a separate inquiry concerning alleged calumny against President Luiz Inácio Lula.