Brazil’s federal police have recommended that former President Jair Bolsonaro face criminal charges for his involvement in a scheme to falsify his Covid-19 vaccine card. This was done in part to travel to the United States during the pandemic, marking another development in the ongoing criminal investigations surrounding the former president.
Federal prosecutors will now determine whether to pursue the case, which would be the first time Bolsonaro has faced criminal charges.
The Brazilian police alleged that Bolsonaro instructed a top aide to obtain fake Covid-19 vaccination records for himself and his 13-year-old daughter in late 2022, just before he traveled to Florida for a three-month stay following his election defeat.
Authorities in Brazil are awaiting a response from the U.S. Justice Department to determine if Bolsonaro used a counterfeit vaccination card to enter the United States, which could lead to additional criminal charges.
During that time, most international travelers entering the United States were required to provide proof of Covid-19 vaccination, including foreign leaders like Bolsonaro.
Bolsonaro has denied receiving a Covid-19 vaccine and refuted claims of involvement in any plan to falsify his vaccination records. His lawyer stated that they are currently reviewing the accusations.
If found guilty of forging his vaccine card, Bolsonaro could potentially face imprisonment.
This indictment by the federal police marks the first step towards formal charges in the various criminal investigations against Bolsonaro.
Bolsonaro has been under scrutiny in multiple inquiries, including allegations of receiving gifts and attempting to subvert the democratic process after his election loss in 2022.
The Brazilian electoral court has already barred Bolsonaro from holding public office until 2030 for spreading misinformation about the country’s voting systems.
Throughout the pandemic, Bolsonaro downplayed the Covid-19 vaccine, promoting unproven treatments instead. His administration’s delayed vaccine procurement worsened the situation in Brazil, leading to a congressional investigation recommending criminal charges against Bolsonaro for his actions during the pandemic.
Despite the recommendations, prosecutors did not charge him at the time. Brazil has suffered over 700,000 Covid-19 deaths, the second-highest toll globally after the United States.
In May 2023, police raided Bolsonaro’s home, seized his phone, and arrested some of his associates in connection with the fake vaccination records investigation.
According to police records, Bolsonaro’s aide and his wife used fake vaccination cards to enter the U.S. in 2022. The aide claimed that Bolsonaro instructed him to obtain a fake vaccine card after learning about his own.
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