Brazil’s chief prosecutor has filed criminal charges of coercion against Eduardo Bolsonaro, the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro, accusing the federal lawmaker of using his political position to advance family interests and undermine the republic.
In a statement released Monday, the Attorney General’s Office alleged that Eduardo, a congressman and outspoken conservative, repeatedly acted to “subject the interests of the republic to personal and family agendas,” exposing Brazil to the risk of foreign sanctions.
Eduardo Bolsonaro, who is currently living in the United States, rejected the accusations as “bogus,” calling it “absurd” to suggest he obstructed justice.
Writing on the social platform X, he said he first learned of the charges through media reports and claimed the timing only showcases “ongoing political persecution.”
The charges come just weeks after his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, was sentenced to 27 years in prison for plotting a coup following his 2022 election defeat.
Eduardo has publicly lobbied Washington for support, meeting allies of former U.S. president Donald Trump, who has described the elder Bolsonaro’s conviction as a “witch hunt.”
Prosecutors said they will also seek financial compensation for damages linked to the alleged crimes.
Businessman Paulo Figueiredo, grandson of former military ruler João Batista Figueiredo, was named as a co-defendant in the case.
Eduardo Bolsonaro relocated to the U.S. earlier this year, claiming he is living in “exile” to avoid arrest if he returns to Brazil.
He has been a vocal critic of Brazil’s judiciary and a key figure in international efforts to rally support for his father.
The indictment adds to a deepening political crisis in Brazil, where tens of thousands of protesters filled streets on Sunday to oppose a controversial congressional proposal that could grant lawmakers immunity from prosecution.
The so-called “Banditry Bill,” which requires a secret congressional vote before any lawmaker can be charged or arrested, has been condemned by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who vowed to veto it if passed by the Senate.
Meanwhile, tensions with Washington have escalated after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced sanctions on the wife of Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who presided over Jair Bolsonaro’s trial.
Moraes denounced the U.S. action as “illegal and regrettable,” while President Lula called a recent 50% U.S. tariff on Brazilian goods “misguided and illogical.”
