Brazilian Police Accuse Jair Bolsonaro and Son of Obstruction of Justice
In a significant development, Brazilian police have leveled serious accusations against former President Jair Bolsonaro, 70, and his 41-year-old son, Eduardo Bolsonaro. They stand accused of obstructing justice in connection with an ongoing trial against Jair Bolsonaro, who faces allegations of attempting to orchestrate a coup following his defeat in the 2022 presidential election.
Authorities have reportedly discovered a document on Jair Bolsonaro’s mobile phone indicating that he may have considered seeking asylum in Argentina as a means to evade criminal proceedings. Furthermore, Eduardo Bolsonaro is accused of lobbying the Trump administration in an effort to influence the case, which allegedly resulted in the U.S. imposing punitive tariffs on Brazilian goods.
This new 170-page police report emerges just weeks before the final phase of the coup trial begins, intensifying scrutiny on the former president. Jair Bolsonaro has consistently denied any conspiracy to overturn his electoral defeat to left-wing candidate Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Nonetheless, he has voiced concerns over the integrity of the judicial process, claiming it is a politically motivated "witch hunt." Last month, he expressed doubts about the impartiality of the Supreme Court justices overseeing his case, asserting that they had likely made up their minds to convict him. Despite these claims, he firmly stated that he never considered fleeing the country to escape trial.
The police report reveals the existence of a draft letter on Jair Bolsonaro’s phone, in which he allegedly requested political asylum from Argentine President Javier Milei. Although the letter is undated, law enforcement noted it was last modified in February 2024, shortly after Bolsonaro had to surrender his passport. While an Argentine government source indicated that no such letter was received, police argue that its existence suggests Bolsonaro’s intent to evade justice.
Judge Alexandre de Moraes, who is presiding over Bolsonaro’s trial, has given the former president’s legal team 48 hours to explain the asylum request allegations. Currently under house arrest, Jair Bolsonaro faces restrictions that prevent him from posting on social media and from contacting his son due to previous court violations.
The report also implicates Eduardo Bolsonaro in attempts to sway the trial outcome by pressuring the Brazilian government and Supreme Court through his actions in the U.S. In July, former President Trump announced a 50% increase in tariffs on Brazilian imports, citing the treatment of Jair Bolsonaro as a catalyst for this decision. Additionally, the U.S. State Department has imposed travel bans on eight Brazilian Supreme Court justices, including Alexandre de Moraes.
In response to the allegations, Eduardo Bolsonaro, who has been residing in the U.S. for nearly six months, took to social media to deny any wrongdoing. He asserted that his actions were not aimed at influencing the legal proceedings in Brazil but rather focused on advocating for the "restoration of individual freedoms" in his home country.
As this situation unfolds, all eyes remain on the trial and the implications it holds for both Bolsonaro and the Brazilian political landscape.
