Brazil’s Supreme Court Moves to Trial Eduardo Bolsonaro on Obstruction Charges:

Brazil’s Supreme Court has taken a significant step against Eduardo Bolsonaro, the third child of former President Jair Bolsonaro, by voting to bring him to trial on charges of obstruction of justice. On Friday, three of the five justices on a Supreme Court panel approved an indictment accusing Eduardo Bolsonaro of using threats and political pressure to interfere in a court case against his father. The legal case stems from Jair Bolsonaro’s conviction in September, when the Supreme Court sentenced him to over 27 years in prison for allegedly attempting to subvert the results of Brazil’s 2022 presidential election through a planned coup. Throughout his father’s legal battles, Eduardo Bolsonaro, a sitting member of Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies, has been among the most vocal defenders. In the months following the 2022 election, Eduardo traveled multiple times to the United States, where he met with former President Donald Trump and other Republican officials. In March, he announced plans to relocate to the U.S. to advocate full-time on behalf of his father, stating he would dedicate himself entirely to “seeking justice.” The Supreme Court panel determined there is enough evidence to suggest Eduardo’s actions may have crossed legal boundaries. According to Justice Alexandre de Moraes, Eduardo’s efforts in the U.S. “aimed to create an environment of institutional and social instability, applying increasing sanctions to Brazilian authorities and causing economic harm to Brazil.” Justices Flavio Dino and Cristiano Zanin joined de Moraes in voting to proceed to trial. Voting on the panel will continue until November 25. Central to the case is whether Eduardo Bolsonaro lobbied the Trump administration to take actions against Brazil in order to influence the judicial proceedings against his father. Jair Bolsonaro and Trump have maintained a close political alliance, and Trump has publicly intervened in Latin American politics to support right-wing leaders. In July, Trump sent a letter to Brazil’s current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, accusing Brazilian authorities of censoring Bolsonaro and labeling the trial as a “witch hunt.” The same month, an executive order described Brazil’s actions against Bolsonaro as a “national emergency” and a threat to U.S. interests. By August, the Trump administration imposed tariffs of 50% on several Brazilian exports, the highest U.S. tariff rate for any country at the time, with India matching the rate shortly thereafter. Trump’s administration also targeted Justice de Moraes, stripping him and his family of U.S. visas and imposing sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act—a measure normally reserved for severe human rights abuses or corruption. By September, these sanctions were expanded to include de Moraes’s wife, Viviane Barci de Moraes. Eduardo Bolsonaro has openly supported Trump’s actions, attending MAGA-themed events and meeting with figures such as former White House adviser Steve Bannon. At one event, he wore a green hat with the slogan “Make Brazil Great Again.” In August, he told BBC News that he supported Trump’s tariff campaign against Brazil and the sanctions on Justice de Moraes. Following the Supreme Court panel’s ruling, Eduardo Bolsonaro posted on social media denouncing the decision as a “witch hunt.” He argued that the tariffs and Magnitsky sanctions were beyond his control and questioned whether Justice de Moraes was using Brazil’s anti-corruption laws to prevent him from running for office in the future. If convicted, Eduardo Bolsonaro could face fines and up to four years in prison. Meanwhile, Jair Bolsonaro remains under house arrest as he continues to appeal his 27-year sentence. Just last week, the Supreme Court panel also rejected his father’s request to reduce or overturn the conviction, underscoring the ongoing legal and political tensions surrounding Brazil’s former president and his family.

NEWS