On Wednesday (Aug. 20), the Federal Police announced that they indicted former President Jair Bolsonaro and his son, Federal Deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro, for coercion in the course of the proceedings and attempting to abolish the Democratic Rule of Law.
The decision came after the police concluded their investigation into Eduardo Bolsonaro’s actions with the administration of US President Donald Trump to promote retaliatory measures against the Brazilian government and justices of the Supreme Federal Court.
In recent months, the US government announced a series of actions against Brazil and Brazilian authorities, such as a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian products, a commercial investigation into the instant payment system Pix, and financial sanctions against Minister Alexandre de Moraes under the Magnitsky Act.
Trump and members of his administration claim that Bolsonaro is the target of a “witch hunt” and that Moraes is acting against freedom of expression and against American companies that operate social networks.
In May, Attorney General Paulo Gonet requested that the Supreme Federal Court open a Federal Police investigation against Eduardo and Jair Bolsonaro due to the congressman’s alleged efforts to incite the US government to take measures against Moraes, who was chosen as the case rapporteur because he also led the investigations into the coup plot and fake news.
In this case, former President Jair Bolsonaro is being investigated for sending funds via Pix to cover his son’s expenses abroad while he sought sanctions to pressure the Brazilian justice system. In March, Eduardo Bolsonaro requested a 122-day leave from his parliamentary term and moved to the United States, alleging political persecution.
Fonte: Agência Brasil