A senior official from the United States State Department confirmed on Tuesday that the government will issue visas to Flavio Bolsonaro and his family, granting them entry into the country. The announcement follows reports from outlets including The New York Times and CNN, which cited unnamed US officials stating that Bolsonaro had already departed Brazil for the United States.
Bolsonaro, 45, was defeated by incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Sunday's presidential election. His departure from Brazil occurs despite a judicial travel ban; reports indicate that while his passports were cancelled, he had not surrendered the documents as of Tuesday afternoon. Bolsonaro, who denies any allegations of wrongdoing, is currently under investigation for several legal issues, including suspected money laundering, currency evasion, and the financing of a biographical film about his father, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.
The move has drawn sharp criticism from President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who stated that he had just learned of the departure. Calling the exit "shameful," Lula da Silva argued that his opponent should have remained in the country to prove his innocence regarding the various investigations he faces. As he prepares to lose his parliamentary immunity, Bolsonaro finds himself increasingly isolated; while he has vowed to legally challenge the election results, his political party and allies have already accepted the outcome.
