Trump and Milei under pressure to explain role in Flavio Bolsonaro’s dramatic escape to US

Brazilian senator Flavio Bolsonaro stated Friday that he fled to the United States because he was a victim of persecution in Brazil. According to Bolsonaro, he secretly left Brazil on Tuesday and arrived in Florida on Wednesday via a private jet, traveling through Ecuador and Argentina. He explained during an Instagram livestream that his decision to flee followed the cancellation of his passports as part of a money laundering investigation.

Bolsonaro recounted that police informed him on Monday that his passports were being revoked following a visit to his father, former president Jair Bolsonaro, who is under house arrest. While the senator said he and his wife made the decision to leave without anyone knowing, he did not provide specific details regarding his departure.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Argentine President Javier Milei are facing pressure to explain the role their respective countries played in helping the 45-year-old senator escape Brazil, according to the South China Morning Post and Malay Mail. Bolsonaro's departure occurred two days after he was defeated by incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in a presidential election.

Brief written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post, Malay Mail — 2 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.