Alleged flight to U.S. after losing Brazil’s presidential election... passport revoked too

[Financial News, New York — Correspondent Lee Byung-chul] Brazil’s government has invalidated the passport of Flavio Bolsonaro, who lost the presidential election. The eldest son of former President Jair Bolsonaro is under investigation on suspicion of financial crimes, and allegations have also emerged that he tried to flee to the United States via Argentina. Tensions between the Bolsonaro family and Brazil’s judiciary appear to be escalating again.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), the Financial Times (FT) and other outlets reported on the 27th, local time, citing Brazilian government officials, that authorities had invalidated both Flavio Bolsonaro’s ordinary and diplomatic passports. The move came after he failed to comply with the Brazilian Supreme Federal Court’s order to surrender his passports.
Earlier, Supreme Federal Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered Bolsonaro on the 25th to surrender his passport and barred him from leaving the country. Bolsonaro is the subject of two investigations: one into alleged money laundering linked to the online gambling industry, and another into alleged financial crimes in the financing of a film about his father.
On the 26th, Bolsonaro posted a video on Instagram thanking the voters who supported him in the presidential election, while once again claiming that there may have been irregularities during the election. He denied the allegations against him and said he would surrender his passport, but reportedly did not do so.
The controversy is widening amid allegations that Bolsonaro tried to flee to the United States via Argentina.
On the 27th, Argentine border authorities searched a private jet at Iguazú International Airport, in the border area between Brazil and Paraguay. The search followed local media reports that Bolsonaro planned to use the aircraft to leave for the United States. However, authorities said they found no evidence that he had tried to board the plane.
The Brazilian government also said it had found no official records confirming that Bolsonaro had left the country via the Argentine border. However, many crossing points along the two countries’ border are not staffed by immigration officials, leaving it unclear whether he actually departed.
The Bolsonaro family has long claimed that Justice Alexandre de Moraes and the Supreme Federal Court were politically persecuting them. In this connection, they also repeatedly asked U.S. President Donald Trump for support.
Former President Jair Bolsonaro, Flavio’s father, also has a history of leaving for Florida after losing the 2022 presidential election to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, without accepting the result. He later returned to Brazil but was convicted of attempting to overturn the election result and sentenced to 27 years in prison. He is currently serving his sentence under house arrest.
Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court maintains that the investigation into the Bolsonaro family is a legitimate measure to protect the rule of law and democratic institutions.

[email protected] Correspondent Lee Byung-chul Reporter