Brazil's chief prosecutor has charged the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro with coercion, according to an official statement released on Monday.
The attorney general's office has alleged that Eduardo Bolsonaro, a congressman, acted repeatedly to advance personal and familial agendas at the expense of the country's interests, leading Brazil to face sanctions from foreign governments.
Eduardo has rebuffed these accusations, labeling them 'bogus' in a social media post and calling the claims of obstruction of justice 'absurd.'
This legal development follows the recent sentencing of his father, Jair Bolsonaro, who governed Brazil from January 2019 to December 2022. Jair was sentenced to 27 years in prison for plotting a coup.
Eduardo Bolsonaro, currently residing in the U.S., revealed that he learned about the charges from the press and claimed the timing of the announcement reflects his 'ongoing political persecution.'
Prosecutors are not only seeking criminal penalties but also aim to hold Eduardo accountable for damages stemming from these alleged criminal actions.
Additionally, businessman Paulo Figueiredo, grandson of former dictator João Batista Figueiredo, has been implicated in the same charges.
Eduardo Bolsonaro moved to the United States earlier this year, expressing fear of arrest upon returning to Brazil. He has made appeals for support for his father from the Trump administration, who have compared the case against Jair to a 'witch hunt.'
In a related note, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced sanctions on the wife of Brazil's Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversaw Jair's trial, which drew condemnation from the justice himself.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Brazilians protested against a bill that could offer amnesty to the former president, asserting that they demand accountability and rejecting any notion of impunity.
