4 Years: The Prison Sentence That Shaped Flávio Bolsonaro's Haste to the U.S.
The senator arrived in America immediately after losing by nearly 4% to Lula, a move prompted by a deadline to surrender his passports and family ties to the Trump administration.
By Pedro Tanaka ·
Flávio Bolsonaro landed in the United States on Monday, hours after losing the Brazilian presidential race to incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The senator’s rapid departure coincided with a strict deadline to surrender his regular and diplomatic passports, which expired at noon Tuesday. It is unclear if he complied with the order before boarding his flight.
Lula secured the victory with more than 64 million votes, outpacing Bolsonaro’s total of fewer than 60 million. This margin represents a difference of nearly 4% of the national vote. The Supreme Court of Brazil issued a sealed order on Sunday requiring Bolsonaro to turn in his passports. He received the document outside the home where his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, is serving a 27-year sentence under house arrest.
A senior State Department official confirmed on Tuesday that Flávio Bolsonaro and his family will receive U.S. visas. The official stated that the senator, an ally of President Trump, and his relatives will be granted entry. Bolsonaro had visited the White House in May to discuss their relationship. Trump suggested on Monday that the Brazilian election was rigged, a claim he made without providing supporting evidence.
The decision to leave Brazil followed public advice from Flávio’s brother, Eduardo Bolsonaro. Eduardo, who resides in Texas, had encouraged Flávio to exit the country if he lost the election. Eduardo faces a four-year prison sentence in Brazil for illegally lobbying the Trump administration. A warrant for his arrest was issued recently, and he was convicted in absentia in June.
Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently under house arrest for attempting a coup after his 2022 defeat, also fled to Florida following that loss. He returned to Brazil three months later. Flávio has refused to concede the 2026 election and has raised unsubstantiated allegations of fraud. Neither his spokesperson nor his campaign manager, Rogério Marinho, responded to requests for comment regarding the move to the United States.
Source: CBS News
