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Flavio Bolsonaro, who travelled to the United States after losing Brazil’s presidential election, plans to seek permanent residency there, Anadolu Agency reported. He said he was concerned he could face political pressure and prosecution if he returned to Brazil.
In an interview with “The Epoch Times”, Bolsonaro said he would continue his political activities in Brazil from abroad. He said he could defend his country from the United States and would keep in contact with political supporters, making decisions with them.
Bolsonaro thanked the American people and President Donald Trump for welcoming him and his family. He said he was pursuing permanent residency in the United States through legal means.
He said he believed the Trump administration had a busy agenda following the Republicans’ defeat in the US midterm elections and would wait for a more suitable time to meet administration officials.
Bolsonaro also said people he encountered on the streets, in restaurants and at airports during his stay in the United States had expressed support for him. He added that their encouragement had given him strength.
After losing the election to Lula da Silva, Bolsonaro left Brazil with his family for Miami. He is under investigation for corruption and money laundering and had been given a deadline to surrender his passport. Before the deadline expired, he had secretly flown out of Brazil.
Reports had suggested that Bolsonaro first travelled to Argentina before going to Ecuador. Lula da Silva called it “shameful” that Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, who lost the election, had left the country despite a travel ban.
Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court is investigating Flavio Bolsonaro over allegations of illegal financing linked to “Dark Horse”, a biographical film about his father, according to Brazilian media reports.
Brazilian newspapers “O Estado de S. Paulo” and “O Globo” also reported that Bolsonaro was a suspect in a separate money-laundering investigation allegedly linked to his close friend and lawyer, Willer Tomaz.
US President Donald Trump said he viewed the Brazilian election results with skepticism and had allowed Bolsonaro and his family to enter the United States.
