U.S. issuing visas to Brazil's Flávio Bolsonaro and family, official says

Bolsonaro, an ally of former President Trump, left Brazil for the United States following his electoral defeat, according to multiple Brazilian media reports. The decision came as a deadline for him to surrender his regular and diplomatic passports expired at noon on Tuesday.

Passport Surrender Order

Bolsonaro was served with the Supreme Court order to surrender his passports on Monday, a day after his loss to Lula. He claimed to have received the notice outside the home where his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, is serving a 27-year sentence under house arrest for attempting a coup after his 2022 election defeat.

The sealed order, viewed by The Associated Press, was issued Sunday. Bolsonaro has refused to concede defeat and made unsubstantiated allegations of election fraud, despite Lula winning with more than 64 million votes compared to Bolsonaro's nearly 60 million.

Family Connections

Bolsonaro's brother Eduardo, who lives in Texas, had publicly encouraged him to leave Brazil if he lost the election. Eduardo was convicted in absentia in June of illegally lobbying the Trump administration and sentenced to four years in prison, with an arrest warrant recently issued for him.

Flávio Bolsonaro has emphasized his relationship with Trump, having visited the White House in May. Trump did not fully endorse Bolsonaro in the runoff but suggested without evidence that Brazil's election was "rigged" on Monday.