Bolsonaro Senator Faces Corruption Probe Ahead of Vote

Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, a prominent right-wing candidate in Brazil’s upcoming presidential election, is facing a formal corruption probe involving his connections to a disgraced banker linked to a massive financial scandal. The investigation emerged after Brazil’s Supreme Court unsealed court documents revealing that Justice Andre Mendonca opened the inquiry in July at the request of federal police.

According to the released files, investigators are examining whether the senator engaged in corruption, money laundering, and tax evasion in relation to Daniel Vorcaro, the former head of the failed lender Banco Master. Vorcaro, who was arrested in March, stands accused of orchestrating one of the largest frauds in Brazilian history, with an estimated value of $2.3 billion and hundreds of thousands of victims.

Alleged Financial Links to Family

Federal police data extracted from Vorcaro’s cellphone indicates that he transferred approximately $12 million to a US-based fund linked to Flavio Bolsonaro’s brother, Eduardo Bolsonaro, in 2025. The funds were allegedly intended for the production of a 2026 film titled Dark Horse, which depicts former President Jair Bolsonaro in a favorable light. Investigators are currently seeking to establish the origin of these funds and identify the ultimate beneficiaries.

A screenshot included in the court documents suggests that Eduardo Bolsonaro, a former legislator, provided advice to Vorcaro regarding the management of these US-based funds. Eduardo denied that the transfers constituted bribe money, telling Al Jazeera English that the payments were designed to shield the assets from what he described as interference by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. De Moraes previously oversaw the criminal case that resulted in Jair Bolsonaro’s 27-year prison sentence for plotting an attempted coup.

Political Reactions and Transparency Calls

The allegations gained public attention in May when the publication Intercept Brasil leaked messages between the senator and Vorcaro. Flavio Bolsonaro has denied any wrongdoing, stating that he was merely seeking private investment for his father’s film project. As the general election approaches on October 4, both he and incumbent President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva have called for full transparency in the unfolding scandal.

During a campaign event on Friday, Flavio Bolsonaro urged authorities to investigate everyone with transparency, asserting that the public should be shown the evidence to determine who is right. In a television interview on Thursday, President Lula echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that all aspects of the case should be disclosed regardless of which political figures are affected. The race is currently expected to head to a run-off, with pre-election polls showing neither candidate securing an outright majority.

Judicial Tensions Over Unsealed Files

The unsealing of the Banco Master case files was ordered by Chief Justice Edson Fachin this week, releasing thousands of pages of court records. This move has added to internal tensions within the Supreme Court, which has been grappling with disputes among its justices regarding their own involvement in the scandal. Justice Mendonca, one of the judicial appointees of the former Bolsonaro administration, was involved in the initial unsealing of specific documents related to the senator.

As the election date nears, the focus remains on how these judicial developments will impact the campaign dynamics. Observers are watching to see if the investigation will lead to further legal actions or if it will primarily serve as a political issue in the final weeks of the electoral period.