On December 16, Brazil's Supreme Court panel voted to convict Eduardo Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, for soliciting US intervention in his father's trial. Three of four judges voted in favor, with the fourth yet to cast a ballot.
The ruling sentenced Eduardo Bolsonaro to 4 years and 2 months in prison for coercing Brazil's judicial system. Judge Cristiano Zanin stated: "This is not merely an opinion or political stance, but a clear threat to the government and citizens of Brazil, constituting illegal and criminal conduct."
This marks the latest legal setback for the Bolsonaro family, which remains dominant in Brazil's political right. Former President Jair Bolsonaro is currently serving a 27-year sentence for attempting to remain in power after losing the 2022 election, described by prosecutors as a coup plot. The family denounces the trial as a political witch hunt.
Eduardo Bolsonaro, the third son and a federal deputy, has actively defended his father. In March 2025, he announced he would move to the US permanently to "focus 100% energy" on rescuing his father. Prosecutors allege he illegally campaigned for US President Donald Trump's support and leveraged foreign influence to pressure Brazilian authorities to drop the case.
Trump, an ally of Jair Bolsonaro who also contested his 2020 election loss, criticized Brazilian authorities for suppressing right-wing voices. In July 2025, Trump imposed a 50% tariff on certain Brazilian products, citing Jair Bolsonaro's trial as a "witch hunt that must end immediately." He also sanctioned Judge Alexandre de Moraes, overseeing the Bolsonaro case, along with his family and other Brazilian judicial officials for "suppressing dissent."
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva condemned these actions as interference in internal affairs. As relations improved with Lula, Trump's administration eased tariffs and lifted sanctions on de Moraes and his family in December. In May, Lula visited the White House and praised the productive meeting.
Trump's role in Brazil's upcoming presidential election remains unclear. Lula is seeking a fourth term, challenged by Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the former president's eldest son. A CNT/MDA poll on December 16 showed Lula with 49.3% to Flavio's 40.2% in a second-round runoff.
Flavio Bolsonaro faces legal trouble as police launched an investigation in April over defaming Lula, alongside ties to a disgraced banker. Meanwhile, Jair Bolsonaro faces questions about a firearm found at his Brasília residence, where he is serving three months house arrest for medical reasons. Judge de Moraes demanded his legal team explain why "a convict keeps a gun at home" after a guard testified the Glock 9mm belonged to the former president.
