Brazil’s Federal Police indicted former president Jair Bolsonaro, his son Congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro, and evangelical pastor Silas Malafaia in a case that strikes at the heart of Brazil’s institutions.
The investigation alleges coordinated attempts to pressure the Supreme Court and obstruct ongoing criminal cases tied to the January 8 riots. The indictments accuse Jair and Eduardo Bolsonaro of coercion and of seeking to undermine democratic order.
Investigators say Eduardo, now living in the United States, lobbied for sanctions against Brazilian judges and received two million reais from his father to fund the effort.
Bolsonaro himself is already a defendant in a Supreme Court trial for attempting to subvert the state, with a ruling expected in September.
Federal Police documents show U.S. authorities sanctioned Justice Alexandre de Moraes under the Magnitsky Act in July, and eight other Supreme Court judges lost U.S. visas.
Eduardo Bolsonaro Accused of Interfering in Father’s Case Abroad
Investigators say Eduardo Bolsonaro promoted such measures abroad to weaken those handling his father’s case. Evidence from Jair Bolsonaro’s seized devices also revealed a draft asylum request to Argentina’s president Javier Milei.
In addition, recordings captured Malafaia advising Bolsonaro to link U.S. tariffs on Brazilian goods to amnesty for those convicted of the January 8 attacks.
Police argue Malafaia played a central role in designing strategies to pressure judges and push Bolsonaro to violate court bans on social media use.
Bolsonaro allegedly bypassed restrictions by sending videos through intermediaries and later tried to address demonstrators indirectly via his son.
These actions led the court to impose house arrest. The Federal Police says the repeated violations show an organized campaign to intimidate and obstruct Brazil’s highest court.
Eduardo Bolsonaro denies wrongdoing. He insists his activity in the United States falls under First Amendment protection and aims only to promote amnesty legislation. He rejects claims of interference in Brazilian trials.
The case now rests with the Prosecutor General’s Office, which will decide whether to bring formal charges to the Supreme Court. A conviction could mark one of Brazil’s most consequential rulings against a former head of state.