Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil's former conservative president, has been diagnosed with skin cancer while under house arrest for alleged "crimes against democracy."
According to Breitbart, Bolsonaro's medical team confirmed that two of eight skin lesions recently removed from his body tested positive for squamous cell carcinoma, described as an "intermediate" form of skin cancer. The 70-year-old politician, who was recently sentenced to 27 years in prison, is facing significant health challenges alongside his legal battles.
Bolsonaro was discharged from DF Star Hospital in Brasília on Wednesday after being urgently admitted the previous day due to vomiting, dizziness, low blood pressure, and presyncope symptoms. His medical team, led by Dr. Cláudio Birolini, stated that his condition improved following hydration and intravenous medication treatment.
The former president initially entered the hospital on Sunday to undergo surgery for the removal of eight skin lesions around his torso and right arm, along with additional medical tests. Dr. Birolini characterized Bolsonaro's overall health as "fragile," noting that tests revealed he also suffers from iron deficiency anemia and pneumonia.
Bolsonaro has been under strict house arrest since August by order of Supreme Federal Tribunal Justice Alexandre de Moraes. The restrictions imposed on him are severe, prohibiting him from speaking to the press, making public comments, or using any telephone devices or social media platforms.
Following Sunday's hospital discharge, de Moraes reportedly questioned a five-minute "delay" in Bolsonaro's return to house arrest. This scrutiny led to modified terms of Bolsonaro's police escort, which will now be exclusively handled by Brazil's Federal Police and/or the Penal Police.
Bolsonaro's legal team reportedly had to explain his latest hospital visit to Justice de Moraes, highlighting the strict surveillance he faces. Supporters gathered outside the hospital during his discharge, waving Brazilian, American, and Israeli flags while chanting messages of support.
On the same day Bolsonaro was urgently hospitalized, a federal court in Brazil fined him approximately $188,750 for allegedly engaging in "recreational racism." The charge stems from remarks allegedly made to one of his supporters, Maicon Sulivan, who reportedly never accused Bolsonaro of racism and treated the incident as a joke.
Dr. Birolini provided further details about Bolsonaro's cancer diagnosis, explaining that of the eight lesions removed, seven were suspected of being cancerous. The doctor confirmed that two tested positive for squamous cell carcinoma, describing it as "neither the mildest nor the most aggressive" form of skin cancer.
Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, the former president's son, shared the medical report on social media with a defiant message. He wrote that his father "has fought tougher battles and won" and suggested the health issues resulted from "relentless persecution" since Bolsonaro "dared to challenge the system."
Last week, Justice de Moraes and three other STF Justices voted to convict and sentence Bolsonaro to 27 years and three months in prison. The charges relate to his alleged involvement in a "coup" plot to overturn the 2022 presidential election results, which he narrowly lost to current leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
A recent survey by Brazilian polling firm Quaest found that 49 percent of respondents considered Bolsonaro's prison sentence "exaggerated," while 35 percent deemed it "adequate." The STF has not yet determined where Bolsonaro will serve his sentence.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the United States would "respond accordingly" to what he called a "witch hunt" against Bolsonaro. President Donald Trump has already taken action, signing an executive order in July that identified the Brazilian government as a threat to America's "national security."
The executive order cited de Moraes' persecution and censorship of Bolsonaro and other conservative voices as reasons for imposing a 50-percent tariff on Brazil. Additionally, the United States sanctioned de Moraes under the Global Magnitsky Act.
Several Brazilian outlets have reported that de Moraes might respond to potential new U.S. sanctions by sending Bolsonaro to the Papuda Prison Complex. This maximum-security prison near Brasília is reportedly overcrowded and described as a reclusion center for "politicians convicted in cases of national repercussion."