Brazil Supreme Court Convicts Eduardo Bolsonaro Over U.S. Lobbying Efforts

Brazil’s Supreme Court has convicted Eduardo Bolsonaro, the son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, for seeking foreign interference in legal proceedings involving his father. In a unanimous decision on Tuesday, a four-justice panel sentenced the former lawmaker to four years and two months in prison, a ruling that could lead to his arrest if he returns to Brazil.

The case centers on allegations that Eduardo Bolsonaro attempted to influence Brazilian judicial matters through contacts with officials in the United States. Prosecutors argued that he encouraged U.S. authorities to impose sanctions on Brazilian Supreme Court justices and support trade measures, including tariffs on Brazilian goods, to pressure the court during Jair Bolsonaro’s coup plot trial. Although some of those measures were later reduced or withdrawn, prosecutors maintained that his actions constituted improper interference.

Eduardo Bolsonaro, who relocated to the United States in 2025 before his father’s trial concluded, rejected the court’s decision. He claimed he was not properly informed about the legal proceedings and argued that his efforts in Washington were intended to defend Brazil’s constitutional principles rather than secure his father’s acquittal.

The ruling adds another chapter to the Bolsonaro family’s legal and political challenges. Jair Bolsonaro, who served as Brazil’s president from 2019 to 2022, is currently serving a 27-year sentence under house arrest after being convicted for his role in a plot to overturn the results of the 2022 presidential election.

Eduardo Bolsonaro has recently backed the presidential ambitions of his brother, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, who is considered one of the leading challengers to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva ahead of Brazil’s October election. The brothers also met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House last month.

In addition to the prison sentence, the court’s decision bars Eduardo Bolsonaro from seeking public office for eight years. He had already lost his seat in Brazil’s lower house of Congress and his legislative salary after repeatedly missing parliamentary sessions in 2025. Eduardo maintains that the case is politically motivated and aimed at preventing his future participation in Brazilian politics.