Eduardo Bolsonaro, Son of Former Brazilian President, Sentenced to 4 Years and 2 Months for Lobbying U.S. to Sanction Brazil

Brazil's Supreme Court today sentenced Eduardo Bolsonaro, the third son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, to four years and two months in prison in his absence. The conviction stems from his urging the United States to sanction Brazil during the trial over his father's alleged coup attempt.

According to Agence France-Presse and Reuters, Eduardo Bolsonaro, the son of Brazil's former far-right president, is currently residing in the United States. He had been attempting to rally American support for his father's political cause.

Former President Jair Bolsonaro is currently serving a 27-year prison sentence for orchestrating a coup in 2022.

Four Supreme Court justices ruled in favor of the prosecutors' charges. Prosecutors argued that Eduardo stated that if his father's case did not have a 'good outcome,' he would push for U.S. sanctions, constituting 'threats against judicial authorities and other government officials.'

Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes stated, 'The duty of a Brazilian federal congressman is not to lobby against his own country abroad.'

The 41-year-old Eduardo has also been barred from holding public office for eight years. He may appeal the ruling.

Eduardo, who had planned to run as a substitute candidate for the Senate in the October elections, said in a statement: 'This meaningless trial has only one true purpose: to remove my name from the ballot.'

Initially, Eduardo's strategy did prove effective. Last year, U.S. President Donald Trump imposed high tariffs on Brazil, punishing what he called a 'political witch hunt' against Bolsonaro.

However, after left-wing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva held his first formal meeting with Trump, these tariff measures were canceled.

The Trump administration had previously sanctioned Supreme Court Justice Moraes, but those measures have also since been revoked.

Relations between Brazil and Washington are currently at a low point after Trump met with Eduardo's brother, presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro, before the election. Polls show Flavio and Lula are running neck-and-neck.

In December last year, Eduardo had already lost his congressional seat due to excessive absenteeism. (Translated by Li Pei-shan) 1150617