Bolsonaro Son Flees to Miami

Flavio Bolsonaro stepped off a private jet in Miami on Wednesday morning. He was accompanied by his wife and two daughters. The Brazilian presidential candidate arrived in the United States days after refusing to accept the results of Sunday's election.

The decision to leave Brazil became public late Tuesday. Bolsonaro had previously stated he would contest the outcome and declined to concede defeat. At that time, he also ignored a directive from Brazil's Supreme Court to hand over his passports. Those documents are tied to a money laundering investigation, though Bolsonaro maintains his innocence.

The family traveled via a Gulfstream G400. They landed at the Miami-Opa Locka airport after a multi-leg journey. The group first flew to Argentina on Tuesday night. They then took a private plane to Guayaquil, Ecuador, before completing the flight to Florida. The United States State Department confirmed it would issue visas for the group.

This move contradicted statements Bolsonaro made on Monday. In an Instagram post, he claimed he had no plans to depart the country. He wrote that he intended to "hand over my passports and defend myself against this travesty, which is a clear attempt to intimidate me."

Bolsonaro's ability to travel relied on his Italian citizenship. This status allowed him to fly despite the cancellation of his Brazilian and diplomatic passports. His legal immunity from prosecution ends in February, coinciding with the expiration of his Senate term.

The arrival adds complexity to relations between the two largest nations in the Americas. Bolsonaro's father, Jair, also relocated to Florida following the 2022 election. During this campaign, President Luiz Inacio "Lula" da Silva accused the administration of US President Donald Trump of working with the Bolsonaro family. Trump recently questioned the election's integrity, citing extended voting hours. Jair Bolsonaro is currently incarcerated in Brazil on conspiracy charges related to the 2022 election loss.