After Brazil’s presidential election on Sunday, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro traveled to the U.S., according to three sources, while U.S. visa approvals for him and his family were pending from the State Department.
Flavio Bolsonaro, who has not yet acknowledged defeat to leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, departed Brazil after ignoring a Supreme Court directive to give up his passports.
The ruling relates to a money laundering probe in which he denies wrongdoing.
Visa Approval
A senior State Department official confirmed that Flavio Bolsonaro and his family will be issued visas by the State Department and allowed them entry into the United States.
On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump told reporters he would support Flavio Bolsonaro’s entry into the United States, remarking “I think they’re fine people.”
Trump also stated that the election was “very strange” and that he thought it was “terrible.”
Reaction to Departure
Speaking in Brasilia, Lula stated he had just learned of Flavio’s departure, calling it shameful and asserting he should have remained in Brazil to demonstrate his innocence.
Flavio Bolsonaro had been expected to win Sunday’s presidential election but suffered an unexpected defeat.
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On Monday, he was ordered to surrender his passports within 24 hours, and after the deadline passed, his passports were canceled, according to two sources.
A court ruling seen by Reuters cited the risk of Flavio Bolsonaro fleeing Brazil and his “significant financial resources” in ordering his passports seized.
Unclear Circumstances
It is still not known how Flavio Bolsonaro managed to leave the country while facing a 24-hour deadline to submit his passports.
A senior Federal Police official reported that Flavio Bolsonaro did not leave Brazil through any standard immigration checkpoint.
Eduardo Bolsonaro, Flavio Bolsonaro’s younger brother residing in the United States, said before the election that a loss would necessitate him leaving, stating “If my brother does not win, I’m in favor that he would leave the country.”
The Liberal Party said on Monday it acknowledged Lula’s victory, although Flavio Bolsonaro has yet to officially concede defeat.
Senator Rogerio Marinho expressed surprise at the news of Flavio Bolsonaro’s departure, stating that they had discussed his potential role as leader of the opposition just the day before, considering the 60 million votes he received.
The US State Department’s decision to grant visas to Flavio Bolsonaro and his family is a significant development in the ongoing situation. Flavio’s father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, also went to the United States after refusing to concede to Lula in 2022, when former US President Joe Biden was in office. He eventually returned but was later given a 27-year sentence for plotting a coup after his supporters stormed government buildings in Brasilia.
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