Congressmen Want to Revoke Right-Wing Former Brazilian President’s Visa

January 13, 2023 by Tom Ramstack
Congressmen Want to Revoke Right-Wing Former Brazilian President’s Visa
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro looks on after speaking from his official residence the Alvorada Palace in Brasilia, Brazil, Nov. 1, 2022. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres, File)

WASHINGTON — Congressional Democrats are urging President Joe Biden to revoke the visa of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro after insurrectionists stormed that nation’s government buildings this week in a repeat of the Jan. 6, 2021, riot in Washington, D.C.

Bolsonaro is in Orlando, Florida, after losing a reelection campaign. He sought medical treatment and also has been vacationing.

Similar to former President Donald Trump, Bolsonaro claims he lost the election by a slim margin through voter fraud.

His angry supporters responded by breaking into and vandalizing the presidential palace, Congress and Supreme Court in Brasilia on Sunday.

Biden called the attack a threat to democracy. His criticisms were joined Wednesday by 46 House Democrats who said in their letter to the president that Bolsonaro should have no right to a diplomatic visa.

“We know firsthand the impact — both immediate and long-term — when government officials subvert democratic norms, spread misinformation and foment violent extremism,” the letter says.

By losing his status as president after his opponent’s Oct. 30, 2022, victory, he no longer should retain a diplomatic visa, particularly considering the violence he inspired, the congressmen said.

“Mr. Bolsonaro flew to Florida before the end of his presidential term and the inauguration of his successor, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, and we are concerned by reports that he currently is residing in Orlando,” the letter says. “The United States must not provide shelter for him, or any authoritarian who has inspired such violence against democratic institutions.”

Bolsonaro flew to Florida on Dec. 30, 2022, two days before Lula da Silva was inaugurated.

He is under investigation by Brazilian authorities over the extent of his involvement in the Jan. 8 riot. Prosecutors are taking action to freeze his financial assets.

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., went further, pledging to introduce legislation that would bar Bolsonaro and any other nation’s leader that sought to overturn elections they lost.

“It is shameful and inexcusable that Bolsonaro is in Florida on a U.S. visa taking selfies after sowing disinformation and skipping the swearing in of his fairly elected successor,” Durbin wrote in a separate letter to Biden. “Legislation I will propose would ensure anyone who undermines a fair democratic election or peaceful transfer of power is ineligible for a U.S. visa.”

A White House spokesman has said the president would consider the visa revocation requests but declined to make any promises.

Biden administration officials acknowledge that Bolsonaro has placed them in an awkward diplomatic position. They do not want to alienate the government led by Lula da Silva but they also don’t want to anger Bolsonaro’s right-wing supporters.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during a press briefing Wednesday the U.S. government would await a possible request from the Brazilian government before deciding whether to expel Bolsonaro. 

“If and when we do, we’ll work expeditiously to respond as we always do,” Blinken said.

Bolsonaro hinted during an interview with CNN Brazil that he might resolve any visa questions by returning to his home country this month.

“I came [to the U.S.] to stay until the end of the month [January], but I intend to bring forward my return,” Bolsonaro said.

Tom can be reached at [email protected] and @TomRamstack

A+
a-
  • Congress
  • COngressional Democrats
  • Jair Bolsonaro
  • Joe Biden
  • In The News

    Health

    Voting

    International

    December 4, 2023
    by Tom Ramstack
    Human Rights Group Sues to Protect African Child Laborers

    WASHINGTON — A human rights advocacy group sued last week in Washington, D.C., against chocolate companies for their use of... Read More

    WASHINGTON — A human rights advocacy group sued last week in Washington, D.C., against chocolate companies for their use of child labor on cocoa plantations in Africa. The lawsuit says companies like Mars, Mondelez and Cargill have been slow to eliminate child labor while deceiving the... Read More

    Former Career US Diplomat Charged with Spying for Cuban Intelligence for Decades

    MIAMI (AP) — A former American diplomat who served as U.S. ambassador to Bolivia has been charged with serving as a mole... Read More

    MIAMI (AP) — A former American diplomat who served as U.S. ambassador to Bolivia has been charged with serving as a mole for Cuba's intelligence services dating back decades, the Justice Department said Monday. Newly unsealed court papers allege that Manuel Rocha engaged in “clandestine activity” on Cuba's... Read More

    November 29, 2023
    by Dan McCue
    Vice President Harris to Attend Climate Talks in Dubai

    WASHINGTON — Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Dubai on Friday to attend the COP28 climate change talks. According... Read More

    WASHINGTON — Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Dubai on Friday to attend the COP28 climate change talks. According to the White House, the vice president’s scheduled two days at the talks “will underscore the Biden-Harris administration’s success in delivering on the most ambitious climate... Read More

    Hamas Frees First Batch of Hostages Under Temporary Cease-Fire, Including 13 Israelis

    RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas on Friday released 24 hostages who had been held captive in Gaza for weeks,... Read More

    RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas on Friday released 24 hostages who had been held captive in Gaza for weeks, including 13 Israelis, 10 people from Thailand and a Filipino citizen, according to Qatar and other officials, in the first stage in a swap for Palestinians... Read More

    November 21, 2023
    by Dan McCue
    Biden Says Hamas Hostage Deal ‘Very Close’

    WASHINGTON — President Biden said Tuesday morning that an agreement to bring home hostages held by Hamas is “very close”... Read More

    WASHINGTON — President Biden said Tuesday morning that an agreement to bring home hostages held by Hamas is “very close” though he declined to get into details “because nothing is done until it’s done.” The president made his remarks ahead of a meeting in the Roosevelt... Read More

    China's State Media Take a New Tone Toward US Ahead of Meeting Between Leaders

    Ahead of the highly anticipated meeting on Wednesday between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Chinese state media have... Read More

    Ahead of the highly anticipated meeting on Wednesday between U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Chinese state media have taken a new tone toward the U.S. with less negative coverage, calls for a return to warmer ties and stories of Americans with positive connections to... Read More

    News From The Well
    scroll top