Flávio Bolsonaro has reportedly fled to the United States amid an investigation in Brazil concerning alleged financial crimes associated with betting companies.
The Supreme Federal Court (STF) Justice Alexandre de Moraes had ordered the senator to surrender both his civilian and diplomatic passports following his recent defeat in the presidential election. The order, which also prohibited him from leaving Brazil, was made at the request of the Federal Police as part of an ongoing inquiry into serious allegations including money laundering and tax evasion.
Reports suggest that Bolsonaro may have had a hidden partnership with lawyer Willer Tomaz in betting houses involved in these illicit activities, and both men are reportedly under investigation.
On Tuesday, allies of Bolsonaro learned of his flight to the US. Investigators claim that both Bolsonaro and Tomaz operated as master users of a Santander Bank account. Although they have denied this claim, a communication from Tomaz requesting that Bolsonaro be removed from the account's master user list was uncovered by the Federal Police.
Tomaz is recognized as the majority shareholder of Cathedral Holdings, a company registered in Portugal and is the sole proprietor of Rede Loto, which supervises BestBet and two other licensed brands in Rio de Janeiro. A report from Piauí magazine indicated that Bolsonaro was a silent partner in the betting operations which generated just over BRL360,000 ($67,275) in revenue over nearly two years. The enterprise incurred a Rio de Janeiro state licensing fee of BRL5 million and did not engage in advertising or promotional activities. This contrasts with Tomaz's activities, where he reportedly handled over BRL10 billion in sports bets through Blaze, earning recognition as Brazil's largest gambler, as noted by the Secretariat of Prizes and Bets (SPA).
In addition, Bolsonaro is facing accusations from the Federal Police related to financial misconduct connected to the funding of a film documenting the life of his father, former president Jair Bolsonaro, who was convicted following an attempted coup.
Sources suggest that allies of the former candidate were notified that he was traveling to the United States. A source aligned with the Trump administration and Bolsonaro’s family confirmed that they were aware of his departure, although the State Department has not issued an official statement. Brazilian reports indicate that the Trump administration plans to offer asylum to the senator.
Information emerging early Tuesday described how, by 11 a.m. the same day, Bolsonaro had not surrendered his passports, prompting Federal Police to revoke them. This action was reported to Minister Alexandre de Moraes.
The first accounts of Bolsonaro’s escape appeared on the Argentinian news platform Infobae, stating that he had entered Argentina with his ID card and intended to fly from Puerto Iguazú to the United States. It was reported that he crossed the Tancredo Neves bridge on foot, which connects Foz do Iguaçu in Paraná to Puerto Iguazú in Argentina. However, there were delays regarding a flight that had not taken off due to an unidentified missing passenger. It remains unclear whether this person has a connection to Bolsonaro's exit from Brazil, and there are no official records confirming his legal departure.
On the eve of the election, Bolsonaro’s brother Eduardo, who has also fled to the U.S., predicted that Flávio would leave Brazil if he lost the election.
Bolsonaro’s electoral defeat is significant, as he was already under scrutiny, and as a senator, he enjoyed a degree of legal protection that shielded him from immediate prosecution. The hope was that winning the election could arrest the investigations, since the Brazilian Constitution prevents presidents from being charged for actions taken outside their term. Following his loss to Lula, the investigations will remain with the STF, which retains jurisdiction over cases involving crimes allegedly committed while in office, according to a 2025 court ruling.
