Flavio Bolsonaro flees to US after refusing to comply with order to surrender his passports following election defeat

Flávio Bolsonaro has fled Brazil for the United States after losing Sunday's presidential election, refusing to comply with an order to surrender his passports. The Brazilian senator, who has yet to concede to leftist incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, left the country after refusing to comply with the Supreme Court's order. The ruling relates to a money laundering probe in which he denies wrongdoing. Mr Bolsonaro's location, along with his wife and two daughters, was unclear at first, with one source close to the family saying he had landed in Florida but declined to specify where. A senior State Department official said: "The State Department will issue visas to Flavio Bolsonaro and his family and allow them entry into the United States." On Monday, Mr Bolsonaro was given 24 hours to surrender his passports, but they were cancelled after the deadline lapsed, two sources told reporters. In an official ruling, the Supreme Court cited the risk of Mr Bolsonaro fleeing Brazil and his "significant financial resources" in ordering his passports seized. Bolsonaro, who loses his immunity from prosecution when his Senate term ends in February, said on Monday he had no plans to flee. He said: "I have never thought about leaving the country. I will hand over my passports and defend myself against this travesty, which is a clear attempt to intimidate me." His departure from Brazil seemed to catch his campaign manager off guard. Senator Rogério Marinho told reporters: "We are surprised by the news because, just yesterday, we discussed the need for Flávio, given the 60 million votes he received, to take on this role as leader of the opposition." Although Mr Bolsonaro has yet to officially concede defeat, saying on Sunday he would seek to annul the result over alleged voter irregularities, his Liberal Party said on Monday it acknowledged Lula's victory. It remains unclear how Mr Bolsonaro left the country while facing a 24-hour deadline to hand over his passports, with one senior Federal Police official saying he did not leave Brazil through any regular migration point. LATEST DEVELOPMENTS - Donald Trump claims Brazil election was 'rigged' despite defeated party recognising Lula victory - Brazil re-elects incumbent left-wing President Lula for historic fourth term over Flavio Bolsonaro in shock result - Brazil election goes to runoffs as Flavio Bolsonaro exceeds expectations over left-wing President Lula Lula has previously accused Washington of colluding with the Bolsonaros to put them back in power. President Donald Trump has previously alleged that Flavio's father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, was a victim of judicial persecution in Brazil. The elder Bolsonaro also went to the United States after refusing to concede to Lula in 2022, when former US President Joe Biden was in office. He eventually returned but was later given a 27-year sentence for plotting a coup after his supporters stormed government buildings in Brasilia. President Trump did not mention Flavio Bolsonaro's departure while on the midterm election trail. However, he said the Brazilian vote "looked like another rigged election." Lula, speaking in Brasilia, said he had just heard that his defeated opponent had left the country, and called it shameful, saying he should have stayed in Brazil and proved his innocence. Mr Bolsonaro was favoured to win Sunday's presidential election but lost in a shock result to Lula. Follow related topics: