Brazil's Bolsonaro Investigated for Alleged Asylum Plans Amid Coup Trial

Brazilian authorities claim former President Jair Bolsonaro plotted to seek political asylum in Argentina to escape legal challenges related to charges of leading a coup attempt post-2022 elections. Investigations include potential interference by his son Eduardo with US relations that could affect trade.

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, now 70, along with his 41-year-old son, Eduardo, is under scrutiny from law enforcement for alleged obstruction of justice linked to a high-profile trial accusing Bolsonaro of orchestrating a coup following his defeat in the 2022 presidential election. The investigation has revealed a draft letter on Bolsonaro's mobile device indicating he may have intended to flee to Argentina for asylum, thereby highlighting concerns over his attempts to avoid legal repercussions.

Brazilian police disclosed that the document calls for political asylum from the incoming Argentine President Javier Milei, who has condemned the ongoing legal pressure on Bolsonaro and is perceived as a supportive ally. The letter was reportedly modified in February 2024, following a period that required Bolsonaro to surrender his passport. However, the Argentine government has stated they have not received any formal asylum request from the former president.

The new allegations emerge as Bolsonaro's trial progresses, with a pivotal phase commencing in less than two weeks. Bolsonaro, asserting he is the victim of a politically motivated campaign aimed at preventing him from running in the upcoming 2026 presidential election, asserts that he has never contemplated leaving the country. He previously expressed doubts about the trial's fairness, claiming that the five Supreme Court justices involved would likely vote for conviction.

Judge Alexandre de Moraes, responsible for presiding over Bolsonaro's ongoing trial, has allocated a 48-hour window for Bolsonaro's legal team to clarify the reported asylum request as part of the investigation. In addition to his own legal troubles, Eduardo Bolsonaro faces accusations of lobbying the Trump administration to exert pressure on Brazil's Supreme Court, potentially resulting in punitive tariffs against Brazilian exports, which were raised to 50% as a protest against Bolsonaro's treatment.

Eduardo, who has been residing in the United States, vehemently denied the charges through social media, asserting that his actions were not intended to influence judicial proceedings back in Brazil but aimed at promoting individual freedoms. As the situation develops, the intertwining of Bolsonaro's political future, legal fate, and international relations remains a significant focus for observers around the globe.