Eduardo Bolsonaro lobbies in Washington after U.S. residency, sparking election interference concerns
Eduardo Bolsonaro, the former deputy and son of ex-president Jair Bolsonaro, obtained U.S. permanent residency and is lobbying in Washington to shield his family, raising fears of American meddling in Brazil’s October presidential vote.
Brazilian courts sentenced former deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro to four years in prison on June 16, prompting him to leave for Texas in March 2025. He received U.S. permanent residency on July 20, 2026, and has since been active in Washington, where he pressures American authorities to levy sanctions that might shield his father, Jair Bolsonaro, from a September 11, 2025 conviction tied to the January 8, 2023 coup attempt against President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Eduardo’s lobbying is directed toward advancing the candidacy of his older brother, Flavio Bolsonaro, who is currently neck-and-neck with Lula in the polls for the October 4 presidential election. The revelations, reported by Agencia Publica, have amplified concerns that the United States could be influencing Brazil’s electoral outcome. Despite the legal verdict, Eduardo remains free to travel and campaign for his family’s political interests from the U.S. capital.
Why it matters
The case highlights how a high-profile Brazilian politician uses U.S. lobbying to affect his home country's election, raising questions about foreign interference.
How this story developed
- Sep 3 Lula runs ultra-cautious campaign as poll gap with Bolsonaro narrows
- Sep 13 A new poll released in early September records Bolsonaro at 46% and Lula at 45% in a hypothetical runoff.
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