Bolsonaro faces backlash from allies after fleeing to US post-election loss

Brazilian presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro faces criticism from his own political camp after fleeing to the US following his election loss, with allies rejecting his unsubstantiated fraud claims. Bolsonaro published an open letter calling the election "abhorrent fraud" after losing to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who won 51.8 percent to 48.2 percent. His party leader Valdemar Costa Neto said no one approved the letter, and former campaign coordinator Rogério Marinho stated there is no evidence of fraud. Bolsonaro traveled secretly to Miami despite a court order to surrender his passports amid a money laundering investigation. He crossed into Argentina using his Italian passport and flew via Ecuador, prompting a complaint against Argentine President Javier Milei, though the government said his entry and exit were legal.