Eduardo Bolsonaro Charged with Coercion Amid Political Turmoil in Brazil

Tue Oct 21 2025 00:30:30 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Eduardo Bolsonaro, son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, faces coercion charges as Brazil grapples with ongoing political strife following his father's sentencing for coup plotting.

Eduardo Bolsonaro, a congressman and son of ex-President Jair Bolsonaro, has been charged with coercion by Brazil's chief prosecutor. The accusations allege that he prioritized family interests over national concerns, potentially jeopardizing Brazil's international relations. In a social media response, Eduardo denounced the charges as 'bogus' and indicative of political persecution. The case comes shortly after his father was sentenced to 27 years for plotting a coup, intensifying the scrutiny surrounding the Bolsonaro family.

Brazil's chief prosecutor has charged the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro with coercion, according to an official statement on Monday.

The attorney general's office has alleged Eduardo Bolsonaro, a congressman, repeatedly acted to subject the interests of the republic to personal and family agendas, which has subjected Brazil to threats of sanctions from foreign governments.

The congressman called these charges 'bogus' in a post on social media X, saying it was 'absurd' to accuse him of obstruction of justice.

The latest move comes weeks after the ex-president, who governed Brazil from January 2019 to December 2022, was sentenced to 27 years in jail after he was found guilty of plotting a coup.

Eduardo Bolsonaro, who resides in the US, claimed he received news of the charges through the press, stating that the timing of the announcement highlights his 'ongoing political persecution.'

In addition to a conviction, prosecutors will also seek 'compensation for damages resulting from the criminal actions.' Businessman Paulo Figueiredo, grandson of former dictator João Batista Figueiredo, has also been named in the charges.

Eduardo Bolsonaro relocated to the US earlier this year and told the BBC he was living in 'exile' out of fear of arrest should he return to Brazil. He has publicly lobbied for support for his father from the Trump administration, which has likened the case against the former Brazilian president to a 'witch hunt.'

US President Donald Trump, who sees Bolsonaro as an ally, imposed a 50% tariff on Brazil in July. Current Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva called the move 'not only misguided but illogical.'

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has vowed further action to pressure Brazil over the ex-president's conviction. On Monday, he announced sanctions on the wife of Brazil's Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who presided over the former president's trial. The justice has said the sanctions against his wife were 'illegal and regrettable.'

Protests erupted in Brazil as tens of thousands rallied against a bill potentially providing amnesty to Jair Bolsonaro, with President Lula declaring he stands with the Brazilian people against impunity. "

The proposal involves secret ballots for Congress to approve charges or arrests of lawmakers, dubbed the 'Banditry Bill' by critics. President Lula has vowed to veto the bill if it passes the Senate.