US Labels Eduardo Bolsonaro Conviction in Brazil a Case of ‘Persecution’

Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court sentenced former congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro, son of ex‑president Jair Bolsonaro, to four years and two months in a semi‑open regime for the crime of coercion in the course of legal proceedings. The unanimous ruling was handed down on 16 June 2026.

The United States, through a State Department spokesperson, described the conviction as part of a pattern of “persecution and legal warfare (lawfare)” against political opponents in Brazil. President Donald Trump raised the issue at a G7 summit in France, mistakenly referring to Eduardo as “Bolsonaro Jr.” and suggesting the imprisonment was politically motivated.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula replied that Trump “knows little about Brazil” and urged him not to interfere in Brazil’s elections. The Federal Public Defender’s Office is representing Eduardo, who did not retain private counsel, and may still appeal the decision. Judges said Eduardo had sought U.S. pressure to influence his father’s trial, linking the case to broader political tensions in the country.