Flavio Bolsonaro headed to the US after losing Brazil election, sources say

Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro has departed for the United States following his loss in Sunday's presidential election, according to two sources. He refused to comply with a Supreme Court order to surrender his passports, leading to their cancellation. The US Embassy in Brazil and Flavio Bolsonaro's lawyer have not commented on the matter.

It remains unclear where Bolsonaro is headed and when he will arrive, nor if he will seek asylum. The US administration previously alleged that Jair Bolsonaro, Flavio's father, was a victim of judicial persecution in Brazil. Flavio's departure could further strain relations between Brazil and the United States, which the President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva accuses of colluding with the Bolsonaros to regain power.

Lula's office did not respond to a request for comment. Although Bolsonaro was initially favored to win, he lost to leftist Lula in a surprise result. Bolsonaro was given 24 hours to surrender his passports as part of a money laundering investigation, but the deadline has now passed. He denied any wrongdoing in the investigation.