Flavio Bolsonaro reportedly flees Brazil for US after presidential election defeat

Brazilian politician Flavio Bolsonaro has reportedly fled to the United States after refusing to accept defeat in Sunday’s presidential runoff election against incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

According to The Punch, sources confirmed Bolsonaro’s departure on Tuesday despite a court order requiring him to surrender his passports.

The US State Department announced it would issue visas to Bolsonaro and his family “and allow them entry into the United States.”

The 45-year-old senator faces investigations involving alleged corruption, money laundering and financial irregularities, including questions surrounding the financing of a biopic about his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro.

Brazilian authorities reportedly cancelled his passports after he failed to surrender them.

Bolsonaro, who denies wrongdoing, has challenged the election outcome despite his party acknowledging Lula’s victory.

Lula secured approximately 51.8 percent of votes against Bolsonaro’s 48.2 percent.

Authorities have yet to establish how Bolsonaro departed Brazil, raising questions about compliance with the court’s travel restrictions.