Bolsonaro’s Asylum Plan Uncovered in Police Report

Brazilian federal police have released a report alleging that former President Jair Bolsonaro drafted a plan to seek political asylum in Argentina to evade legal action in Brazil. The document, found on his phone, was a 33-page letter to Argentine President Javier Milei, dated February 10, 2024, two days after his passport was seized. In the letter, Bolsonaro claimed “political persecution” and expressed fear for his life.

The police report also indicates that Bolsonaro and his son, Eduardo, a federal lawmaker, attempted to influence legal proceedings by lobbying for support from the U.S. government. Messages recovered from Bolsonaro’s phone allegedly show his son encouraging him to praise President Donald Trump to affect the legal outcomes in Brazil. The Trump administration has since imposed sanctions on a Brazilian Supreme Court Justice and levied a 50% tariff on certain Brazilian exports, citing the case against Bolsonaro as a “witch-hunt.”

While the Argentine government has not confirmed receiving the asylum request, the findings are part of a larger police report that formally accuses Bolsonaro and his son of obstructing justice. Bolsonaro, who is currently under house arrest, is facing trial on charges related to an alleged coup attempt, which could result in a long prison sentence. Justice Alexandre de Moraes has given Bolsonaro’s legal team a deadline to address the evidence suggesting he is a flight risk.