Flávio Bolsonaro, facing significant legal scrutiny in Brazil, is reported to have fled to the United States amid ongoing investigations into alleged financial crimes tied to betting companies.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes of the Supreme Federal Court (STF) had previously ordered Bolsonaro to surrender both his civilian and diplomatic passports and barred him from leaving the country. These actions were initiated at the behest of the Federal Police, which are probing accusations that include money laundering and tax evasion.
The investigations suggest that Bolsonaro may have engaged in a secret partnership with lawyer Willer Tomaz, who is also under investigation. Allies of Bolsonaro have stated he recently departed and is now en route to the US.
What are the accusations against him? Reports indicate that both Bolsonaro and Tomaz were said to have managed a master account at Santander Bank. Though they denied these claims, the Federal Police uncovered a message from Tomaz requesting the removal of Bolsonaro from the master user privileges.
Tomaz is identified as the majority shareholder of Cathedral Holdings, a Portuguese company, and the sole shareholder of Rede Loto, which oversees BestBet and two additional licensed brands in Rio de Janeiro. An article in Piauí magazine indicated that Bolsonaro was a silent partner in these betting operations.
These betting sites reportedly operated for nearly two years and generated revenue exceeding BRL360,000 (approximately $67,275). They paid a state licensing fee of BRL5 million yet did not engage in advertising or commercial activities. Meanwhile, Tomaz handled more than BRL10 billion in sports bets on Blaze, and was recognized by the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA) as Brazil's leading gambler.
Furthermore, the Federal Police are investigating Bolsonaro's financial dealings concerning the production of a film about his father, former president Jair Bolsonaro, who has a history of being convicted of attempted coup activities.
Reports point to Bolsonaro's flight details. According to UOL, associates of the defeated presidential candidate revealed he was traveling to the United States. A source within the Trump administration, familiar with Bolsonaro’s family, noted they are aware of his departure, although the State Department has yet to make an official comment. Brazilian media speculates that the Trump administration may grant him asylum.
As of the morning of his reported escape, news surfaced that he had not surrendered his passports by 11 a.m. Additionally, due to the flight manifest indicating one passenger was unaccounted for, the Federal Police canceled Bolsonaro's passports and alerted Justice Moraes.
Early reports from the Argentinian outlet Infobae detailed that Bolsonaro crossed into Argentina using only his identification card, with intentions to fly from Puerto Iguazú to the US. He allegedly traversed the Tancredo Neves bridge on foot, linking Foz do Iguaçu in Brazil to Puerto Iguazú in Argentina. His flight remained on the ground, unable to take off while one person was still awaited, and there was no official record of his departure from Brazil.
In the context of the recent elections, Bolsonaro was already under investigation, benefiting from parliamentary immunity. Losing to Lula meant that any ongoing cases would continue within the STF. The Brazilian Constitution stipulates that a sitting president cannot be prosecuted for actions taken outside their term, but as he concludes his senatorial term, his judicial challenges gather momentum.
Following his defeat in the recent election, Bolsonaro’s hopes to evade the inquiries have diminished, as a 2025 court ruling determined that crimes committed during an official tenure fall under the STF's jurisdiction.
