Brazil's Bolsonaro Flees to US, Drawing Party Criticism

Brazil's defeated presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro has fled to the US after illegally leaving the country, facing criticism from his own party leadership over unsubstantiated election fraud claims. His party president Valdemar Costa Neto said no one approved his letter alleging fraud, and even his father, jailed ex-president Jair Bolsonaro, was unaware of the departure. Bolsonaro fled despite orders to surrender his passports, with money laundering investigations ongoing in Brazil. The New York Times reported White House communications staffer Jason Miller arranged a private jet to Miami, and President Donald Trump ordered entry approval. Bolsonaro reportedly seeks a green card for permanent US residence. Bolsonaro's fraud claims, lacking evidence, were rejected by his former campaign coordinator Rogério Marinho and ally Governor Tarcísio de Freitas, who urged respecting the election result. Official results confirmed Lula's victory with 51.8 percent against Bolsonaro's 48.2 percent.