Rubio Faces Scrutiny Over Bolsonaro's US Visa and Exit
Twenty-five House members demand answers on whether Washington coordinated the Brazilian politician's departure amid pending money laundering charges.
By Lauren Bello ·
A group of twenty-five House representatives sent a formal inquiry to Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday evening regarding the arrival of Brazilian politician Flávio Bolsonaro in the United States. The letter questions how the State Department managed Bolsonaro's visa and whether federal officials facilitated his exit from Brazil while he faced active criminal investigations.
The initiative was led by Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove of California and Rep. Dina Titus of Nevada, along with other members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The legislators seek clarification on whether the State Department coordinated travel authorization with other federal agencies. They also want to know if Washington was aware of the open cases against Bolsonaro and what specific assistance was provided to help him leave the country.
In the letter, the lawmakers stated that the American people and Congress have a legitimate interest in determining if US diplomatic and immigration resources were used to facilitate the trip of a foreign political figure under these specific circumstances. They noted that the case warrants transparency because it involves a judicial process in another nation and could impact bilateral relations and the application of US immigration policies.
Bolsonaro, who belongs to a prominent right-wing family in Brazil and is close to figures in Trump's orbit, faces an investigation in his home country for alleged money laundering. Following his defeat in the second round of the presidential election against Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, a Brazilian judge ordered him to surrender his passport and remain in the country. Reports cited by POLITICO indicate that Bolsonaro left with his wife and children, first traveling to Argentina before heading to Miami. That outlet clarified it could not independently verify those specific travel details.
The Department of Homeland Security confirmed that Bolsonaro arrived in South Florida with his family. Customs and Border Protection officers received and inspected the group in accordance with standard immigration procedures. After the review, all members of the family were released.
The State Department has not yet responded to the legislators' questions. The White House directed inquiries to the State Department and CBP. The Congressional investigation aims to determine if the Trump administration played a role beyond the routine entry procedures for the country.
