Former presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro, who fled Brazil, arrived in the US with his family, CNN Brazil reported on Tuesday night. No further details are given yet.
Earlier, the AP, citing sources, reported that the US State Department will allow Bolsonaro and his family to remain in the country and issue them visas. The State Department will issue visas to Flavio Bolsonaro and his family and allow them to enter the US, a senior department source told the agency.
The Brazilian newspaper Folha de S.Paulo had reported on Tuesday that the US administration was aware of Bolsonaro's escape from Brazil and was ready to grant him asylum.
According to one of the newspaper’s sources, US authorities were involved in planning Bolsonaro’s escape from Brazil. The senator decided to flee Brazil after losing Sunday’s presidential election and after the judiciary ordered him to remain in the country and surrender his Brazilian and Italian passports.
Brazilian Supreme Court Judge Flavio Dino decided on Tuesday to open an investigation into possible foreign financing of Bolsonaro’s election campaign. Also, Bolsonaro is involved in two criminal cases related to money laundering and other crimes.
His senatorial term expires in February 2027, after which he could be prosecuted, Brazilian media report. The second round of Brazil’s presidential election was held on October 25.
The current head of state, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, won. Flavio Bolsonaro, however, did not accept defeat. In his opinion, the Brazilian authorities' decision to extend the voting time caused a number of election violations.