Brazil worries US may reject extradition of Eduardo Bolsonaro

Brazil's executive branch and the Supreme Federal Court (STF) are concerned that a U.S. refusal to extradite former congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro could create significant political fallout. Bolsonaro was sentenced by the STF on 16 June to four years and two months in prison for coercion linked to his attempts to influence U.S. sanctions against a STF minister. He has been residing in the United States since February 2025.

If Brazil proceeds, the request would first be examined by a U.S. federal court, which must assess its compatibility with the 1965 Brazil‑U.S. extradition treaty that bars extradition for political crimes. Legal experts note that “the American judge may understand there was political motivation in the crime of coercion.” The case would then move to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has personal ties to the Bolsonaro family and is a vocal critic of STF minister Alexandre de Moraes. Given these factors, analysts see a low probability that the United States will approve the extradition, echoing a previous refusal to extradite Brazilian influencer Allan dos Santos for alleged opinion‑based offenses.