Flávio Bolsonaro left Brazil after losing the presidential runoff and failing to surrender his passports by a court deadline. According to EL PAÍS, he went to the United States; in Folha’s earlier account, allies had heard of his departure while his location remained unresolved. Bolsonaro denies the alleged money laundering underlying the order.
Brazilian Senator Flávio Bolsonaro left the country after losing the presidential runoff to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. EL PAÍS reported that he went to the United States. Folha de S.Paulo reported that people close to his family had received word of his departure, while his whereabouts remained unresolved. Folha’s account did not independently establish his travel route.[1], [2]
Alexandre de Moraes, a justice of Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court, had given Bolsonaro 24 hours on Monday to surrender his passports. The order concerned an investigation into alleged money laundering linked to online gambling. The deadline expired on Tuesday morning without compliance, and police invalidated his Brazilian travel documents. The senator also holds a diplomatic passport and an Italian passport.[1]
Bolsonaro denies the allegations and calls the investigation politically motivated. On Monday he had said he would stay in Brazil and lead the opposition. The US State Department said it would issue visas allowing him and his family to enter the United States.[1]
Reports suggested travel through Argentina, but the country’s migration authority said it found no flight plan involving the Bolsonaro family. The precise journey remained unsettled. Flávio is the son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro; his brother Eduardo lives in the United States. Moraes considered Eduardo’s suggestion that Flávio move there when assessing the risk of flight.[1]
