Brazilian federal police have accused former President Jair Bolsonaro of receiving over 30 million reais ($5 million) without clear justification between March 2023 and February 2024, raising suspicions of money laundering, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press on August 21, 2025. The allegations add to the mounting legal troubles of the far-right leader, who is already under house arrest and awaiting a verdict in early September for an alleged coup plot following his 2022 election loss.
The financial watchdog’s findings, detailed in a 170-page obstruction-of-justice investigation submitted to Brazil’s Supreme Court, claim Bolsonaro and his son Eduardo engaged in “several maneuvers to dissimulate the origin and destination of financial resources” to support illegal activities, including those of Eduardo, a lawmaker living abroad. Nearly 20 million reais ($3.48 million) of the funds reportedly came from over 1.2 million PIX transactions, with similar amounts spent on investments, wire transfers, withdrawals, and exchange operations, primarily through state-run Banco do Brasil.
Bolsonaro, who served as president from 2019 to 2022, has not commented directly on the latest accusations but has repeatedly claimed political persecution by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s government. His lawyers expressed surprise at related obstruction-of-justice charges, denying any violation of court-imposed measures, including those tied to his house arrest. Justice Alexandre de Moraes, overseeing the case, gave Bolsonaro’s legal team 48 hours on Wednesday to explain alleged non-compliance, such as recent communications with allies. The lawyers insisted there was “never noncompliance with any precautionary measure” and promised a timely response.
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The investigation also revealed Bolsonaro considered seeking asylum in Argentina in February 2024, as documented in a 33-page letter to President Javier Milei, citing political persecution. Despite having his passport seized by the Supreme Court on February 8, 2024, due to concerns he was a flight risk, Bolsonaro did not pursue asylum. His lawyer, Paulo Cunha Bueno, told TV GloboNews that while Bolsonaro received “every kind of suggestion,” he chose to stay, despite no initial house arrest or ankle monitor.
The money laundering allegations follow earlier charges against Bolsonaro, including a July 2024 indictment for laundering undeclared diamonds from Saudi Arabia and falsifying his COVID-19 vaccination records in March 2024. Federal police also accuse him of involvement in a January 2023 uprising in Brasília aimed at ousting Lula, with a trial verdict due between September 2 and 12, 2025. These new financial allegations will not affect that ruling but could lead to a separate trial if Brazil’s prosecutor-general, Paulo Gonet, pursues charges.
Bolsonaro’s ties to US President Donald Trump, who recently imposed 50% tariffs on Brazilian exports while echoing Bolsonaro’s persecution claims, have drawn international attention. Argentina’s government, through spokesperson Manuel Adorni, stated it has not received any asylum request from Bolsonaro.
The accusations have sparked heated reactions. Supporters, including Bolsonaro’s son, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, decried the investigations as a “dictatorship” led by Moraes, while critics argue the evidence points to systemic corruption. “This is about accountability, not politics,” said Brasília resident Ana Costa. As Brazil braces for the coup trial’s outcome, the new allegations intensify scrutiny on Bolsonaro’s post-presidency actions, raising questions about his financial dealings and their implications for Brazil’s political landscape.
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