Bolsonaro seeks six more months in US amid probe
Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro, who is under investigation for his supporters’ storming of government buildings, is seeking a six-month visa to remain in the United States, his lawyer said on Monday.
Mr Bolsonaro flew to Florida in late December as his term ended rather than watch the inauguration of his leftist successor President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
He is understood to have entered on a visa for visiting world leaders, which expired yesterday as he is no longer on official business.
AG Immigration Group, a Californiabased law firm known for its work with Brazilians, said that Mr Bolsonaro has requested a six-month visa to stay in the United States.
“We look forward to achieving the highest level of satisfaction and desired results for our client,” it said in a statement.
Mr Bolsonaro had previously told CNN Brasil that he had planned to return by the end of January, and was considering moving his departure earlier for health reasons.
The far-right leader was injured in a knife attack in 2018. He has suffered ongoing health complications from that assassination attempt, and received hospital care during his stay in Florida.
But Mr Bolsonaro has since come under scrutiny over the Jan 8 riot in the capital Brasilia by his supporters who refused to accept Mr Lula’s victory.
The new government has ordered a probe of Mr Bolsonaro, who for years has sought to cast doubt on Brazil’s electronic voting system, which has historically won praise around the world.
Mr Bolsonaro’s last justice minister, Anderson Torres, was also visiting the United States during the riot and was arrested on his return.
Thousands of Bolsonaro backers broke into the presidential palace, Congress and Supreme Court buildings in Brasilia in an unsuccessful attempt to seek the overthrow of Mr Lula.
Several lawmakers of Mr Biden’s Democratic Party have publicly called on the administration to send Mr Bolsonaro back to Brazil, saying he no longer had a right to stay in the United States as a visiting head of state.
“The United States must not provide shelter for him, or any authoritarian who has inspired such violence against democratic institutions,” said a letter signed by lawmakers including Representative Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.