Public Doubt Grows: Bolsonaro’s Hallucination Claim Fails to Convince Observers

Public and political doubt is intensifying following Jair Bolsonaro’s bizarre claim that drug-induced hallucinations caused him to tamper with his electronic ankle monitor. The former president told a custody hearing that a “psychotic attack” led him to believe the monitor was a secret listening device, which he then damaged with a soldering iron.
Bolsonaro was arrested after federal police detected interference with the tracking equipment, which raised suspicions that he was preparing to flee to a foreign embassy to avoid his 27-year prison sentence for a failed coup. He has been confined to his residence since his conviction but firmly denied any escape plans.
The skepticism stems primarily from his earlier, simpler excuse that he acted merely “out of curiosity,” which sharply contrasts with his current dramatic defense. The shifting explanation is seen by critics as a cynical legal maneuver.