Minister Alexandre de Moraes, of the STF, paved the way to transform Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL-SP) into a defendant by accepting the PGR’s complaint for coercion during the process.
In the vote released in the virtual plenary, the rapporteur maintains that the deputy acted to activate United States authorities with the aim of putting pressure on Supreme Court ministers during the trial of the January 8 coup attempt, including lobbying that resulted in the suspension of visas and the .
Moraes claims that Eduardo and journalist Paulo Figueiredo conducted a “continuous strategy” to provoke economic and political sanctions against Brazil and against magistrates, to favor Jair Bolsonaro in the process that ended with his death.
Continues after advertising
According to the vote, the deputy presented himself publicly as someone capable of calling on congressmen and US government bodies to impose measures against Brazilian authorities.
Among them, export tariffs, visa blocking and individual punishments provided for in the Magnitsky Law, a provision applied to Moraes in July 2025 and, later, .
The statement published by Eduardo on social media after the sanctions — “there is much more to come” — was cited by Moraes as an element that reinforces the intimidating nature of the actions.
Coercion and amnesty
For the rapporteur, the measures constitute a serious threat to the functioning of the Judiciary and meet the criminal type of coercion during the process.
The vote also mentions that Eduardo defended, simultaneously, a “broad, general and unrestricted amnesty” for those investigated by January 8, which would increase the pressure on ministers who voted to condemn the former president.
The DPU, which represents the parliamentarian, asked for the complaint to be rejected on the grounds that there was no violence or direct threat. Moraes dismissed the allegations and recorded that Eduardo left Brazil without providing an address, which justified the summons by notice.
Continues after advertising
Trial in progress
The case is being analyzed in the virtual plenary session of the STF, which currently has four ministers: Moraes, Cármen Lúcia, Cristiano Zanin and Flávio Dino. Only the rapporteur and Flávio Dino have voted so far. If supported by the majority, Eduardo Bolsonaro will become a defendant.
Basis of the complaint
The PGR’s accusation uses public statements by the deputy and Paulo Figueiredo, messages seized by the PF and records of political negotiations carried out in the USA.
According to Attorney General Paulo Gonet, there was a deliberate attempt to embarrass Brazilian authorities through external sanctions, a strategy classified as an “institutional threat” and used to try to weaken the prosecution of the coup plot.
Continues after advertising
