Exclusive: Former President Jair Bolsonaro Allegedly Plotted Political Asylum in Argentina amidst Obstruction of Justice Charges

In Brasilia, Brazil, the federal police have revealed that messages found on former President Jair Bolsonaro’s phone suggest he had considered fleeing to Argentina and seeking political asylum. The documents were reviewed by The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Bolsonaro is currently facing a Supreme Court ruling regarding an alleged coup attempt, with another potential case pending against him for obstruction of justice. On Wednesday, police formally accused Bolsonaro and his son, Eduardo Bolsonaro, of obstructing justice in relation to the former president’s trial.

According to a 170-page report, Bolsonaro drafted a request for political asylum from Argentine President Javier Milei’s government on Feb. 10, 2024. This was two days after authorities searched his home and office in connection with the coup plot investigation.

In the weeks leading up to this date, Bolsonaro spent two nights at the Hungarian Embassy in Brasilia, sparking speculation that he may have been attempting to avoid arrest.

The Argentine asylum request is part of a wider police accusation of obstruction of justice, with Bolsonaro allegedly ignoring precautionary measures for his house arrest and disseminating content to his allies aimed at undermining Brazilian democratic institutions, including the Supreme Court and Congress.

If the attorney-general chooses to charge him, Bolsonaro could face another trial. Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversees the case, has given Bolsonaro’s lawyers 48 hours to explain why he sought political asylum in Argentina and failed to comply with other precautionary measures of his house arrest.

In a letter addressed to Milei, Bolsonaro claimed he was being politically persecuted in Brazil. Both men are supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently imposed 50% tariffs on Brazilian exports based on some of the former president’s claims.

Bolsonaro had his passport seized by Brazil’s Supreme Court on Feb. 8, 2024. He has repeatedly sought to have it returned, including before Trump’s inauguration this year. De Moraes has rejected all requests due to concerns over Bolsonaro as a flight risk.

As of yet, the Argentine government has not received any request for political asylum from Bolsonaro. The former president did not comment on the investigation.

Bolsonaro attended Milei’s inauguration in December 2023, while serving President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva did not attend. Relations between Milei and Lula have been strained since Milei took office.

Investigators also seized the passport and cell phone of evangelical pastor Silas Malafaia, a close ally of Bolsonaro’s, but he has not been formally accused of obstruction of justice.

Brazil’s federal police have uncovered several messages between Bolsonaro and his son discussing attempts to praise Trump to influence legal proceedings in Brazil. In one exchange, Eduardo Bolsonaro told his father that he needed to act responsibly so he wouldn’t have to remain in the U.S. for too long.

Eduardo Bolsonaro also claimed he had secured U.S. government support “with great difficulty,” stating that he and an ally, Paulo Figueiredo, were the only ones with access to the White House. He also told his father that Trump’s support was their best chance of avoiding prison.

The federal police have also investigated conversations between Bolsonaro and Martin de Luca, a lawyer for video platform Rumble and the Trump Media Group, in a case challenging Justice Alexandre de Moraes. De Luca sent Bolsonaro information about Rumble’s lawsuit against de Moraes in the U.S. On July 14, De Luca wrote to Bolsonaro saying he was receiving interview requests from U.S. media for the former president. That same day, Bolsonaro sought De Luca’s advice on a statement praising Trump.

A verdict and sentence in the coup trial will be handed down by a Supreme Court panel of five justices between Sept. 2 and 12. The new findings will not be part of that decision. Prosecutors say Bolsonaro and several of his allies headed a criminal organization that plotted to overturn the election, including plans to assassinate Lula and de Moraes.