Brazil’s lower house removed Bolsonaro’s son and former intelligence agency chief from their seats

brazilLower House Speaker Hugo Motta decided on Thursday to remove two MPs close to the former president jair bolsonaro Far-right leaders serving a 27-year prison sentence for leading a coup attempt were removed from their seats in the latest blow.

One Bolsonaro’s voice, Eduardo Bolsonaroand Alexandre Ramagem, the former head of Brazil’s intelligence agency, were stripped of their seats for different reasons. The decision was published in the journal of Brazil’s lower house.

Since moving to Texas in February, Eduardo Bolsonaro has missed more than 80% of this year’s lower house sessions, in violation of its rules. The 41-year-old claims he has been politically tortured at home, and has lobbied members of the Trump administration to help his father overturn his conviction and put pressure on President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

“As everyone knows, he is living abroad by his own decision,” Motta told reporters after his decision was announced. “He has not attended the sessions of our House and it is impossible for him to complete his tenure as an MLA if the person is not in our area.”

The removal was ordered by Brazil’s Supreme Court for Ramagem, who recently fled to the US to avoid a 16-year prison sentence in the same case that put Bolsonaro behind bars in November. Earlier this month, Motta, who has often sided with Bolsonaro allies, said he was going to put the decision to remove Ramgame from his seat to a vote in the full House.

If Eduardo Bolsonaro returns to Brazil, he would face trial on charges of obstruction of justice in his father’s attempted coup. The former president’s son was accused of using violence or serious threats to interfere with legal proceedings. If found guilty, he could face one to four years in jail and a fine.

Neither Eduardo Bolsonaro nor Alexandre Ramagame made any comments about losing their seats.

Eduardo Bolsonaro has repeatedly said that he has impressed the US President donald trumpA 50% tariff increase on Brazilian imported goods was ordered in July. Trump has said the move was due to Bolsonaro’s case, which he called a “witch hunt”.

Later, when Trump and Lula began speaking out, most of the high tariffs imposed on Brazil were rescinded.

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