U.S. to issue visas to Flávio Bolsonaro as his whereabouts remain unclear
The U.S. State Department will issue visas to Flávio Bolsonaro and his family, as the defeated Brazilian presidential candidate's location remains unconfirmed amid legal troubles.
At a glance
- The US State Department will issue visas to Flávio Bolsonaro and his family, though his exact location remains unconfirmed.
- Bolsonaro lost Brazil's presidential election to Lula by over four million votes but has refused to concede defeat.
- Brazil's Supreme Court ordered Bolsonaro to surrender his passports and barred him from leaving the country amid ongoing investigations.
The United States announced it will issue visas to Flávio Bolsonaro and his family, even as his whereabouts remain unconfirmed following his loss in Brazil's presidential election. Bolsonaro, a conservative ally of President Donald Trump, lost Sunday's election to incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva by over four million votes, but has refused to concede defeat.
A senior U.S. administration official confirmed the visa decision on Tuesday, allowing Bolsonaro and his family to enter the country. This comes as Bolsonaro faces multiple investigations in Brazil, including allegations of money laundering and tax evasion, which he denies.
Brazil's Supreme Court ordered Bolsonaro to surrender his passports within 24 hours and barred him from leaving the country on Monday. The order followed comments by his brother Eduardo, who lives in self-imposed exile in Florida, suggesting Flávio should leave Brazil if he lost the election.
In a video released that day, Bolsonaro said federal police officers stopped him outside his father's home and ordered him to surrender his passports. He stated, "I never thought about leaving the country. I will hand over my passports and defend myself against this aberration," describing the order as an attempt to intimidate him.
Brazilian media reported on Tuesday that Bolsonaro had left for the United States, though his campaign manager, lawyer, and political allies said they did not know his whereabouts.
Lula won the election with just over 51% of valid votes, approximately 64.2 million, compared to Bolsonaro's more than 48%, or nearly 59.8 million.
President Trump has repeatedly cast doubt on Lula's victory without evidence, suggesting the election was "rigged" and referencing it at a Texas campaign rally on Tuesday night.
Lula criticized Bolsonaro's reported departure during his 81st birthday celebrations in Brasília, telling supporters, "Those who have nothing to hide have nothing to fear," and adding that Bolsonaro could have stayed to prove the accusations against him were false.
Source: NPR News
Questions and answers
- Why is the US issuing visas to Flávio Bolsonaro?
- A senior US administration official announced that the State Department will issue visas to Bolsonaro and his family, allowing them to enter the country, though his whereabouts remain unconfirmed.
- What legal issues is Bolsonaro facing in Brazil?
- Bolsonaro faces multiple investigations in Brazil, including allegations of money laundering and tax evasion, which he denies. Brazil's Supreme Court ordered him to surrender his passports and barred him from leaving the country.
- Did Bolsonaro concede the election to Lula?
- No, Bolsonaro has refused to concede defeat despite losing by over four million votes. His party has recognized Lula's victory, but Bolsonaro himself has not.
