White House aided Bolsonaro's escape to US after election loss

The White House helped Flávio Bolsonaro, the loser of Brazil's presidential election, flee to the United States despite a travel ban, according to reports. He thanked President Trump on Wednesday for a warm welcome after leaving Brazil with his family. A White House communications staffer with close ties to the Bolsonaro clan arranged the private plane, per The New York Times. The plan was made Monday after Bolsonaro was asked to surrender his passports, and he entered the US with a cancelled diplomatic passport. Bolsonaro refuses to concede defeat, calling himself "Brazil's legitimately elected president" and vowing to lead the opposition from exile. Trump called the election "a shame" for Brazil, though he said he did not interfere in the result.