Moraes Votes to Accept Coercion Complaint Against Eduardo Bolsonaro in STF Virtual Session

Overview

• Brazil’s Supreme Court 1st Chamber opened a virtual judgment on Nov. 14 to decide whether to receive the PGR complaint, with votes recorded electronically through Nov. 25 by Alexandre de Moraes, Cristiano Zanin, Flávio Dino and Cármen Lúcia.
• Relator Alexandre de Moraes cast the first vote to receive the complaint and to open a criminal action against Eduardo Bolsonaro for coação no curso do processo.
• The PGR alleges Eduardo acted in the U.S. to mobilize retaliatory measures—economic sanctions and visa revocations—to influence proceedings related to his father’s conviction and to pressure STF ministers.
• A Federal Police report dated Aug. 20 cites indications that Jair and Eduardo Bolsonaro, with support from pastor Silas Malafaia, sought to press U.S. authorities for sanctions targeting STF members and Brazil’s economy.
• Eduardo, currently in the U.S., was notified by public notice after not presenting a response, leading the Federal Public Defender’s Office to assume his defense; the complaint against Paulo Figueiredo was split off for separate analysis.