U.S. to Issue Visas to Flavio Bolsonaro and Family as Brazil Cancels His Passports

The United States says it will issue visas to Brazilian senator Flavio Bolsonaro and his family, as Brazilian authorities seek to establish his whereabouts after cancelling his passports.

A senior State Department official said Tuesday that Bolsonaro and his family would receive visas and be allowed to enter the United States, according to Reuters.

Passports cancelled after court deadline

Brazil's Federal Police revoked Bolsonaro's passports after he failed to meet a Supreme Court order to surrender them within 24 hours, according to Agencia Brasil. The order is part of a money-laundering investigation. Bolsonaro denies wrongdoing.

The senator lost Sunday's presidential runoff to incumbent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. He has not conceded and has called for the result to be annulled.

The U.S. statement concerns visas and permission to enter. It is not, by itself, confirmation that Bolsonaro has arrived in the country or received asylum.