Brazilian federal police have uncovered a significant piece of evidence in their ongoing investigation into an alleged coup plot: a draft letter from former President Jair Bolsonaro requesting political asylum in Argentina. This discovery, detailed in a Supreme Court document, intensifies the legal challenges facing Bolsonaro, who is already under scrutiny for his alleged role in efforts to overturn the 2022 election results. The police report further accuses Bolsonaro and his son, Eduardo Bolsonaro, of obstructing justice in the same high-stakes trial.
The Discovery of the Asylum Letter
The draft letter, found on Jair Bolsonaro’s phone, was dated February 10, 2024. This was merely two days after authorities conducted a search of his home and office as part of the broader coup investigation, during which his passport was seized. The 33-page undated document was addressed to Argentine President Javier Milei, a known ideological ally of Bolsonaro’s. In it, the former Brazilian leader claimed to be facing political persecution in Brazil and expressed fear for his life. The letter explicitly stated, “I, Jair Messias Bolsonaro, request political asylum from Your Excellency in the Republic of Argentina, under an urgent regime, as I find myself in a situation of political persecution in Brazil and fear for my life.”
Brazilian police investigators noted in their 170-page report that the document indicated Bolsonaro had “planned to flee the country, in order to prevent the law being enforced.” While the letter was drafted, it remains unconfirmed whether it was ever formally sent to the Argentine president.
The Broader Coup Plot Investigation
This new revelation emerges within the context of a sweeping investigation into an alleged coup attempt orchestrated to prevent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva from taking office after his victory in the 2022 presidential election. The Federal Police formally accused Bolsonaro and 36 other individuals in November 2024 of attempting to overthrow Brazil’s democratic institutions. The accusations include planning to assassinate President Lula da Silva, then-Vice President-elect Geraldo Alckmin, and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes.
The Supreme Court accepted the Attorney General’s complaint in March 2025, turning Bolsonaro and seven allies into defendants in the case. His trial is slated to commence in September. Bolsonaro has consistently denied any wrongdoing, asserting that he is the victim of relentless political persecution.
Allegations of Obstruction of Justice
In addition to the coup plot, the federal police have formally accused Jair Bolsonaro and his son, Eduardo Bolsonaro, of obstructing justice. Eduardo Bolsonaro, a congressman who has spent time in the United States, is under investigation for allegedly lobbying American authorities to impose sanctions on Justice Alexandre de Moraes. Justice de Moraes is a central figure in the investigations against the former president, overseeing the coup case and having previously ordered Bolsonaro’s house arrest.
Prosecutors allege that Eduardo Bolsonaro’s actions, including meetings with U.S. lawmakers and public statements urging sanctions against Justice de Moraes, constitute an effort to intimidate investigators and interfere with the judicial process. The charges under consideration for Eduardo include obstruction of justice, coercion in judicial proceedings, and violent abolition of the democratic rule of law—the same offense his father is currently facing trial for. Eduardo Bolsonaro has denied these accusations, stating that his conversations with his father are “absolutely normal” and that the publication of investigative details is politically motivated.
International Connections and Asylum Speculation
The relationship between Jair Bolsonaro and Argentine President Javier Milei is notably friendly, with Milei having publicly endorsed Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro attended Milei’s inauguration, where he was treated with significant deference. The discovery of the asylum letter underscores the strong ideological ties between the two leaders.
Adding another layer of intrigue, Bolsonaro reportedly spent two nights at the Hungarian Embassy in Brasília in February 2024, just days after his passport was seized. This visit fueled widespread speculation among critics that he was attempting to evade arrest by seeking refuge in foreign territory. Federal deputies subsequently requested the Supreme Court order his preventive arrest based on this incident.
Legal Ramifications and Denials
Jair Bolsonaro is currently awaiting a Supreme Court ruling on the alleged coup attempt. If convicted, he could face a substantial prison sentence, potentially up to 40 years. He is currently under house arrest, with some restrictions on his movement and communication. Despite the mounting evidence presented by federal police, Bolsonaro’s legal team maintains his innocence, arguing there is a “complete lack of evidence” to support the charges. They contend that his actions, including allowing the presidential transition to proceed, contradict the allegations of a coup plot.
The ongoing investigations and trials have drawn considerable international attention, particularly from figures like former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has publicly supported Bolsonaro and criticized the Brazilian legal proceedings as a “witch hunt.”
The discovery of the asylum request draft adds a new, dramatic dimension to the already complex legal saga of Brazil’s former president, suggesting a proactive consideration of flight as his legal pressures intensified.
