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Eduardo Bolsonaro faces a Brazilian arrest warrant while living in Texas

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes has issued an arrest warrant for Eduardo Bolsonaro and ordered his sentence to begin immediately. The former lawmaker lives in Texas and was convicted over lobbying for US sanctions and tariffs during his father’s prosecution. The decision comes before the presidential runoff in which his brother Flávio faces Lula.

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Eduardo Bolsonaro stands beside an open walkway with low brick buildings and dry planting.

Moraes orders Eduardo Bolsonaro’s sentence to begin

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes issued an arrest warrant for Eduardo Bolsonaro on 8 October and ordered his sentence to begin being served. Eduardo is a former federal lawmaker and police investigator, the son of former president Jair Bolsonaro and the brother of presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro. The warrant concerns a conviction over attempts to bring US pressure to bear during the prosecution of his father.[1], [2]

The Brazilian Supreme Court convicted Eduardo in June over lobbying for US interference in his father’s prosecution. His efforts sought sanctions against members of the Brazilian government and higher tariffs on the country’s exports. Moraes also cancelled Eduardo’s Brazilian passport and directed federal police to arrest him if he returns to Brazil. In explaining the decision, the justice argued that leaving national territory should not allow a defendant to frustrate the application of criminal law.[1]

Eduardo has made his home in Texas

Eduardo Bolsonaro is 42, lives in Texas and holds US permanent residence. In March 2025 he announced that he would move permanently to the United States to concentrate on securing his father’s release. His extended absence cost him both his seat in Brazil’s National Congress and his federal police investigator job. He has remained an important connection between his brother Flávio and the administration of US President Donald Trump.[1]

Eduardo accompanied Flávio to a meeting with Trump at the White House in May. The Brazilian warrant does not establish that US authorities have arrested Eduardo or handed him over to Brazil. Moraes directed Brazilian federal police to arrest him if he returns to the country, while the former lawmaker continues to live in the United States.[1]

The decision comes before his brother’s presidential runoff

The decision came before Brazil’s presidential runoff on 25 October between incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Flávio Bolsonaro. Moraes chaired the investigation in which Jair Bolsonaro received a 27-year prison sentence in September 2025 for plotting a coup. The Bolsonaro family regards the justice as a political enemy. Brazil’s opposing political camps have accused each other of corruption and of using legal proceedings for political purposes during the campaign.[1]

References

  1. News sourceAl JazeeraEduardo Bolsonaro faces arrest warrant ahead of Brazil’s runoff↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5
  2. News sourceGP1Alexandre de Moraes orders Eduardo Bolsonaro’s arrest↩
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