Flávio Bolsonaro has reportedly fled to the United States amid ongoing investigations by Brazilian authorities into alleged financial misconduct involving betting companies. Justice Alexandre de Moraes of the Supreme Federal Court (STF) mandated that Bolsonaro surrender both his civilian and diplomatic passports, barring him from leaving the country. These actions came at the request of the Federal Police, who are probing potential money laundering and tax evasion linked to Bolsonaro's dealings.
The investigations suggest that Bolsonaro had a covert partnership in betting establishments with lawyer Willer Tomaz, who is also under scrutiny. On Tuesday, Bolsonaro's associates learned that he was on his way to the US.
Prosecutors allege that both men were major users of a joint Santander Bank account, although they denied these claims. The Federal Police uncovered a communication from Tomaz requesting the bank change its records to remove Bolsonaro as a master user. Tomaz holds a majority stake in Cathedral Holdings, which is based in Portugal, and is the sole owner of Rede Loto, a company overseeing BestBet and two other licensed entities in Rio de Janeiro. A report from Piauí magazine stated that Flávio was a silent partner in these betting operations.
This betting site reportedly operated for nearly two years, generating revenue of approximately BRL360,000 (around $67,275). It paid a BRL5 million license fee to the Rio de Janeiro state but did not advertise or conduct significant commercial activities. In contrast, Tomaz moved more than BRL10 billion in sports bets through Blaze and has been recognized by the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA) as Brazil’s top gambler.
Separately, Bolsonaro faces accusations from the Federal Police regarding financial goings-on linked to the production of a film about his father, former president Jair Bolsonaro.
Reports from UOL confirm that allies of the defeated candidate have learned of his U.S. flight. A source with connections to the Trump administration and the Bolsonaro family indicated they were aware of the departure, though the State Department has not made an official comment. Brazilian media claim that the Trump administration may provide asylum to the senator.
As news of Bolsonaro's escape spread early Tuesday, his passports had not yet been surrendered by 11 a.m., prompting the Federal Police to cancel them and inform Justice de Moraes about the action.
Initial reports regarding his flight surfaced on the Argentinian news outlet Infobae, which stated that Bolsonaro had used his ID card to cross into Argentina, intending to fly from Puerto Iguazú to the United States. He purportedly traversed the Tancredo Neves Bridge on foot to reach Puerto Iguazú. Meanwhile, a flight was held at the airport as one passenger was unaccounted for; details about who this individual was or their travel intentions remain unclear. There is no official record indicating that Bolsonaro departed Brazil through legal routes. On the day before the election, his brother Eduardo, who also fled to the United States, mentioned that Flávio should leave for the U.S. should he lose the election.
Bolsonaro's electoral defeat also complicates his legal situation. He was already under investigation, and as a sitting senator, he would have enjoyed certain legal protections. The hope was to secure his election win to halt the ongoing inquiries. Under the Brazilian Constitution, presidents cannot be prosecuted for actions taken outside their terms. Following his loss to Lula, any pending cases will remain within the jurisdiction of the STF, as a ruling from 2025 determined that crimes linked to official duties remain under STF oversight.
