Eduardo's trial progresses while STF considers including Jair and Flávio

The STF (Federal Supreme Court) has scheduled the trial of the criminal action against former federal deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL-SP) for June 16th, while also analyzing requests to include former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) and senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL-RJ) and expand the scope of the investigation.

The criminal action against Eduardo will be judged by the First Panel of the Court, under the presidency of Minister Flávio Dino. The parliamentarian is accused by the PGR (Attorney General's Office) of coercion during the process for acting in the United States to pressure Brazilian authorities and trying to interfere in investigations related to the attempted coup d'état.

According to the complaint presented by the PGR and already received by the STF, Eduardo had articulated, together with North American authorities and parliamentarians, pressure measures against members of the Brazilian Judiciary.

The defense, carried out by the DPU (Union Public Defender's Office), questions the conduct of the process by Minister Alexandre de Moraes.

In parallel to the trial, Moraes is still awaiting a response from the Prosecutor's Office on requests to expand the scope of the investigation. In an order signed on May 25, the minister sent to the PGR a petition presented by federal deputy Lindbergh Farias (PT-RJ), which asks for the inclusion of Flávio and Jair Bolsonaro among those investigated.

In the petition, Lindbergh maintains that the investigation should begin to investigate possible connections between the financing of the film "Dark Horse", which portrays the former president's political trajectory, Eduardo's international activities and the Bolsonaro family's alleged campaign for sanctions against Brazilian authorities.

Flávio, however, tries to block the progress of the request. The senator asked the STF to declare Moraes a suspect to analyze the request presented by the PT member. The defense maintains that the minister would not have the necessary impartiality to judge the case due to his alleged proximity to businessman Daniel Vorcaro, former controller of Banco Master.

This is because, according to a report published by Intercept Brasil, Vorcaro had been approached by Flávio Bolsonaro to make a million-dollar contribution to the film Dark Horse possible. Lindbergh is now asking for the episode to be investigated as part of the inquiry.

PSOL also articulates itself
A new request was also presented to the STF by federal deputy Pastor Henrique Vieira (PSOL-RJ). The parliamentarian requested the inclusion of Flávio Bolsonaro in the investigation on the grounds that the senator had worked with the United States government to put political and economic pressure on Brazil.

The petition cites Flávio's trip to Washington, where he met with President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in addition to the subsequent recommendation from the USTR (United States Trade Representative) for the application of additional tariffs on Brazilian products.

In the document, PSOL states that there are similarities between the conduct attributed to Flávio and the facts already investigated in relation to Eduardo Bolsonaro, defending the joint investigation of the episodes. Among the measures requested are obtaining information from the US government and access to the senator's contact schedule with US authorities.

To date, Moraes has not yet decided on requests to expand the investigation. The analysis will depend on the opinion of the Attorney General's Office.

Flávio Dino sets Eduardo Bolsonaro's trial at the STF for June 16 | CNN 360°

Source: CNN