Flavio Bolsonaro, 45, escaped Brazil after Sunday's election loss to Lula, defying a Supreme Court order that barred him from leaving the country. He boarded a flight to the United States, leaving behind a legal nightmare that includes corruption and money‑laundering investigations. CNN and the Washington Post quoted an anonymous source saying he landed in an unknown U.S. city.
The Supreme Court had instructed police to seize his passports and prevent his exit, but the senator flew anyway. A police source told AFP that Bolsonaro's Brazilian and diplomatic passports had been revoked, yet there is no formal record of the exit. His Italian nationality, granted in 2023, could explain how he avoided the ban.
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who won 51.8 percent of the vote, called Bolsonaro's flight a "shameful" act. Trump, a longtime ally of Jair Bolsonaro, echoed accusations of a rigged election, while Bolsonaro himself denied any intention to leave, claiming the ban was a scare tactic.
The U.S. State Department announced it would issue visas to Bolsonaro and his family, though it did not confirm travel plans. Bolsonaro's campaign manager, Rogerio Marinho, expressed shock, noting they only received a brief text from the ex‑candidate. The move has plunged the campaign into a legal quagmire, as Brazilian police now must investigate the unauthorized departure.
Police have opened a formal inquiry into foreign funding and social media manipulation linked to Bolsonaro's campaign, while the Supreme Court orders further investigations. The next court hearing is set for next week, and Bolsonaro's family awaits U.S. visa approval, setting the stage for a protracted legal battle.