Eduardo bolsonaro, son of formerโ Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, will face trial for allegedlyโค soliciting assistance from then-U.S. president Donald Trump to interfere in a federal investigation targeting his father, โBrazil’s Supreme court ruled on thursday. The decision marks aโ significant escalation in legal โคchallenges facingโค the Bolsonaro family following Jair Bolsonaro’s departure from office in January 2023.
The case centers around allegations that Eduardo Bolsonaro, whoโข served as a federal congressman, attempted to obtain classified โdataโค and influence the outcome of a probe into โฃhis father’s โคconduct during and after his presidency. This investigation includes scrutiny of Bolsonaro’s actions โฃsurrounding the January 8, 2023,โฃ riotsโข in Brasรญlia and alleged โattempts to undermine Brazil’s electoral system. A conviction could lead to disqualification fromโค holding public office and potential โimprisonment.
According to court documents, Eduardo โBolsonaro met with Trump officials in December 2022, seeking support to โchallenge the integrity of Brazil’s electronic votingโข system. He allegedly claimed, without evidence, โฃthat the system was vulnerable to fraud and requested โassistance in discrediting the election results. Brazilian authorities โคobtained recordings and witnessโค testimonies supporting these claims.
The Supreme Court‘s โฃdecision to โproceed with the trial follows a lengthy investigation led by Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who has been a central figure in efforts to hold the bolsonaros accountable for alleged wrongdoing. Moraes authorized police raids on properties linked toโข the family and issued arrest warrants for severalโ individuals suspected of involvement in theโ alleged conspiracy.
“The actionsโ investigated โsuggest โขa coordinated effort โคto undermine democratic institutions and obstruct justice,” stated a court filing released Thursday. “The evidenceโ indicates a clearโ intent to leverageโฃ foreign influence for personal and political gain.”
Theโ trial is expected to begin within the โฃnext few months, and legal experts predict โa contentious legal battle. Eduardo Bolsonaro has consistently denied any wrongdoing, claiming he was merely exercising his right to seek โinternationalโข support for his concerns about electoral integrity. His legal team has vowed to appeal the Supreme โขCourt’s decision.
