STF Panel Forms Majority to Make Eduardo Bolsonaro a Defendant Over Alleged U.S. Sanctions Push

Overview

• Relator Alexandre de Moraes was backed by Flávio Dino and Cristiano Zanin in the First Panel’s virtual session, leaving only Cármen Lúcia’s vote outstanding until the Nov. 25 deadline.
• The complaint charges coação no curso do processo under Article 344, and the PGR seeks treatment as a continued offense, which could raise the potential sentence to up to 6 years and 8 months.
• Moraes said there is evidence of material facts and sufficient indicia of authorship, citing a campaign that included U.S. tariff hikes, visa suspensions and Magnitsky sanctions to pressure STF ministers in the case that condemned Jair Bolsonaro.
• With the complaint accepted, an action penal opens for evidence-gathering, witness testimony and other measures; Eduardo Bolsonaro, currently in the United States, was notified by public notice and is represented by the federal public defender’s office.
• The case against Paulo Figueiredo was split for separate analysis, and reactions ranged from government allies celebrating the decision to Eduardo Bolsonaro rejecting the move as a “witch hunt.”