Bolsonaro Seeks Court Approval for Visit by Trump Official

Brazil’s Supreme Court has been asked to approve visits from Darren Beattie, a former adviser to US President Donald Trump, to his client Jair Bolsonaro, the former Brazilian president serving a 27-year prison sentence.

Bolsonaro’s lawyers have submitted a petition requesting permission for Beattie to meet with the ex-president at the prison in Brasilia. The proposed meeting would take place on either March 16 or 17, during normal visiting hours. The request also includes the provision of an interpreter, as Bolsonaro does not speak fluent English.

The court filing reveals that Bolsonaro’s lawyers are seeking to arrange a meeting with Beattie next week. No further details about the purpose of the visit have been disclosed.

Bolsonaro was convicted last September and sentenced to 27 years in prison for attempting to overturn his defeat in Brazil’s 2022 presidential election. He has been in prison since November, after his appeal was denied.

Trump has previously expressed support for Bolsonaro, calling his prosecution a “political witch-hunt” and comparing it to his own legal woes in the US. However, Trump has since improved relations with Brazil’s leftist president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Bolsonaro’s eldest son, Flavio Bolsonaro, announced his candidacy for the upcoming presidential election, which is scheduled to take place in October. The younger Bolsonaro is facing a challenge from Lula, who is seeking a fourth term.

Source: Al Jazeera