• A Brazilian judge has ordered house arrest for ten individuals convicted of supporting a coup attempt to keep Bolsonaro in power.
• The ruling follows the extradition of Silvinei Vasques, a former police commander who fled to Paraguay.
• These individuals were previously under strict cautionary measures, including ankle monitors.
• Former President Bolsonaro is serving a 27-year sentence for his role in the coup plot.
• The US government has lifted sanctions against the lead judge involved in the case as trade relations continue to evolve.

A Brazilian judge on Saturday issued house arrest orders for ten individuals convicted for their roles in a plot to maintain former President Jair Bolsonaro's power following his electoral defeat in 2022. This decision by Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes came shortly after authorities in neighboring Paraguay arrested Silvinei Vasques, the former director of Brazil's Federal Highway Police, who was attempting to flee to El Salvador using false identification. Vasques had reportedly breached his ankle monitor and fled to Paraguay in a rental car, raising concerns about the escape of key figures in the plot, according to SCMP, LA Times, and Al Jazeera.

The ten individuals were already subject to preliminary measures, including the use of ankle monitors or restrictions on their movements. Among those affected is Filipe Martins, a former advisor to Bolsonaro, whose legal representative stated intentions to appeal the house arrest ruling, labeling it an injustice for individuals being punished for actions they claim not to have committed. These developments come in the context of widespread scrutiny over the events leading to Bolsonaro's conviction to 27 years in prison for conspiring to retain control after losing the 2022 election, according to SCMP and LA Times.

The trials surrounding Bolsonaro and accomplices have garnered significant attention, particularly reflecting Brazil's ongoing struggles with its democratic framework, reinstated after years of military governance. Bolsonaro's health has been deteriorating since his imprisonment, now facing additional medical challenges after surgery. His wife, Michelle Bolsonaro, revealed on social media that he is enduring persistent health complications, showcasing the tumultuous aftermath of his political career, according to Al Jazeera.

Initially, US President Donald Trump had vocally supported Bolsonaro, claiming that the charges against him were politically motivated, dubbing the legal proceedings a “witch hunt.” The Trump administration imposed tariffs on Brazilian goods in retaliation for Bolsonaro's treatment but later adjusted its stance following his conviction. Recently, new measures have included the lifting of sanctions against Judge de Moraes, indicating a cautious approach to bilateral relations and trade negotiations between the two nations, according to SCMP, LA Times, and Al Jazeera.