Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro has arrived in the United States after Brazilian authorities cancelled his passports for failing to comply with a Supreme Court order to surrender them, according to media reports citing sources.
The 45-year-old, who lost Sunday’s presidential election to incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, was under investigation for alleged money laundering. He has denied wrongdoing and has not been charged in the case.
Sources told the BBC that Bolsonaro met his younger brother, Eduardo, in Florida. However, his route out of Brazil, who accompanied him and whether he intends to remain in the United States are unclear.
The reported arrival came after a senior U.S. official confirmed that Washington would issue entry visas to Bolsonaro and his family.
On Monday, Bolsonaro said he had no intention of leaving Brazil and planned to lead the opposition. His lawyers later said they had no information about his whereabouts after he missed the deadline to surrender his passports.
Brazil’s Supreme Court is also investigating alleged foreign funding of Bolsonaro’s election campaign. Separate probes concern alleged corruption involving a film about his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, and possible links to a lawyer accused of laundering more than $1 billion through a fraud scheme.
Bolsonaro has described the passport order as an attempt to intimidate him. His departure has raised further questions as he faces legal scrutiny following his election defeat.
