Senator Flávio Bolsonaro has left Brazil for Miami following his defeat in the presidential runoff against Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. His private jet landed at the Miami-Opa Locka executive airport, where he was whisked away by police without making any comments. Reports indicate he may hold a press conference either on Wednesday or Thursday.
A senior U.S. State Department official confirmed that Bolsonaro and his family will receive U.S. visas, with President Donald Trump stating on Tuesday night that he would approve their relocation.
Bolsonaro faces at least two criminal investigations, including allegations of involvement in a money-laundering operation estimated at $905 million associated with betting companies. Following his loss, the Federal Police sought to have his passports held by the Supreme Federal Court (STF), fearing he might flee. Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered the surrender of both his civilian and diplomatic passports and prohibited him from leaving Brazil. After failing to comply by 11 AM on Tuesday, the police invalidated his passports.
Investigators allege that Bolsonaro secretly co-owned several betting businesses with lawyer Willer Tomaz, who is also under investigation. Tomaz is the sole owner of Rede Loto, the entity behind BestBet and two other brands licensed in Rio de Janeiro. Reports from Piauí magazine asserted that Bolsonaro was a hidden partner in those ventures.
Concerns have been raised regarding the financial performance of BestBet. Over nearly two years, the brand earned just over BRL360,000 ($67,275), significantly less than the BRL5 million paid for its state license, and did not engage in any marketing. In contrast, Tomaz reportedly wagered more than BRL10 billion on sports through Blaze and has been recognized by Brazil’s betting regulator, the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA), as the country's largest gambler.
Additionally, police have indicated that both Bolsonaro and Tomaz had high-level access to a Santander bank account, although they deny this claim. Investigators reference a communication from Tomaz asking the bank to revoke Bolsonaro's access.
After the election, Bolsonaro was unaccounted for over a day. Argentine migration authorities later confirmed that he entered Argentina by land on Tuesday night. Reports suggest that he boarded the jet at Puerto Iguazú late Tuesday evening along with his wife and two daughters. From there, the plane went to Guayaquil, Ecuador, purposely avoiding Brazilian airspace before ultimately flying to Miami.
Brazilian newspaper O Globo reported that this escape was meticulously arranged weeks prior to the election, in case of defeat, with his brother Eduardo, who is in self-imposed exile in the U.S., as the main organizer. The Federal Police are facing criticism for allowing his departure.
In response to the flight, Lula described it as “shameful.” Since Bolsonaro lost the election, both ongoing cases remain with the Supreme Court. A ruling from 2025 stipulates that crimes related to a politician's tenure remain under the court's jurisdiction even after they leave office. A victory in the election would have granted Bolsonaro immunity from prosecution, as the Constitution of Brazil prohibits legal actions against a sitting president for actions committed outside their term.
