Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro arrived in Miami, Florida, after leaving Brazil in defiance of a Supreme Court order to surrender his passports.
Key Details of the Departure and Travel
- The Court Order: Following his defeat in the presidential runoff election to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered Flavio Bolsonaro to surrender his passports within 24 hours as part of an investigation into a large-scale money-laundering scheme.
- Defiance of Deadline: Bolsonaro missed the deadline to hand over his documents to the Federal Police, prompting authorities to cancel his Brazilian and diplomatic passports. He also holds Italian citizenship.
- The Route to the U.S.: Bolsonaro, his wife, and two daughters traveled through Argentina and Ecuador before boarding a private charter plane to the United States. He landed at Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport.
- U.S. Entry and Visas: U.S. State Department officials confirmed that visas would be issued to Bolsonaro and his family, and President Donald Trump publicly stated he approved of their entry.
- Political Fallout: President Lula criticized the departure as shameful, stating that Bolsonaro should have stayed in Brazil to face the legal inquiries. Bolsonaro has not formally conceded the election and has claimed the travel restriction was an attempt to intimidate him.