Eduardo Bolsonaro sentenced to four years' imprisonment for coercion of STF judges
The STF sentenced Eduardo Bolsonaro to four years and two months' imprisonment for pressuring judges to suspend the case against his father. He is also barred from public office for eight years.
Former deputy condemned for interfering with justice from the United States
Eduardo Bolsonaro was sentenced on Tuesday to four years and two months' imprisonment under semi-open regime by Brazil's Supreme Federal Court (STF) for coercion of the Court's judges, according to Público.
The First Panel of the STF, in a unanimous decision, concluded that the former federal deputy acted from the United States to pressure the Brazilian judiciary to suspend proceedings against his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, accused of attempted coup d'état.
The rapporteur of the case, Alexandre de Moraes, argued that Eduardo Bolsonaro should be removed from his public position as clerk of the Federal Police and barred from eligibility for eight years. Judges Cristiano Zanin, Cármen Lúcia and Flávio Dino supported his vote.
The former president's son must also pay 50 days' fine, totalling over 162,000 reais — approximately €27,300 at current exchange rates.
According to the prosecution, upheld by the Attorney General's Office (PGR), Eduardo made public statements and social media posts in which he claimed to have collaborated to ensure that Donald Trump's Government imposed sanctions on Brazilian authorities, thereby pressuring STF judges and interfering with the course of justice.
In delivering his vote, Moraes emphasised that Eduardo Bolsonaro, who lost his parliamentary mandate last year due to absences, exceeded any legitimate function of representation. "It is not the function of a Brazilian federal deputy to engage in lobbying abroad against the country itself. Even if he were in exercise of the mandate, and not on leave, he would not be protected by parliamentary immunity," the magistrate declared.
Moraes added that Eduardo's threats "materialised", including against Brazil itself, with the increase in tariffs imposed by the United States on Brazilian products, with the "intention of benefiting his own father".
In March 2025, Eduardo had announced the temporary suspension of his parliamentary mandate to reside in the United States, claiming to be a target of political and judicial persecution and stating that leaving Brazil was intended to "devote himself fully and seek appropriate sanctions against human rights violators".
The defence may still file motions for clarification before the decision becomes final. It is not, however, possible to appeal the decision to a higher instance, since the conviction was handed down by the STF itself.
Source: Público