• Brazilian Supreme Court denies former President Jair Bolsonaro's appeal to travel to the U.S.
• Bolsonaro cites political persecution as his passport remains revoked.
• He faces criminal charges including allegations of plotting a coup.
• The former president is barred from running for office until 2030.
• Bolsonaro's wife is set to attend the inauguration in his absence.

In a significant ruling, Brazil's Supreme Court rejected former President Jair Bolsonaro's appeal to travel to the United States to attend the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump on January 20. The decision, made on January 17, underscores Bolsonaro's ongoing legal troubles, as he faces multiple criminal allegations including the claim of plotting a coup following his 2022 electoral defeat. This ruling was reaffirmed just hours after his legal team filed an appeal, asserting that he had adhered to all stipulated precautionary measures and dismissed any chance of fleeing Brazil to evade justice.

Justice Alexandre de Moraes deemed the request to return Bolsonaro's passport unworthy, referencing the former president's own comments in a November 2024 interview where he suggested the possibility of seeking political asylum. Bolsonaro, who ruled Brazil from 2019 until 2022, expressed his frustration by denouncing the court's actions as “huge political persecution by one person” as he prepared to bid farewell to his wife, Michelle, who will attend the inauguration on his behalf. Without his travel privileges reinstated, Bolsonaro remains unable to participate in significant international events, further complicating his already precarious political future.

For more details on this developing story, please refer to sources from USA Today and CNN.