Brazilian Senator Flávio Bolsonaro Denies Allegations of Soliciting Funds from Imprisoned Banker
SAO PAULO (AP) — On Wednesday, Brazilian Senator Flávio Bolsonaro refuted claims of impropriety involving his reported solicitation of substantial funds from incarcerated banker Daniel Vorcaro. This development arises amidst speculation that it could jeopardize Bolsonaro’s anticipated presidential bid against Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, scheduled for October.
Reports from The Intercept Brazil disclosed audio recordings of Bolsonaro seeking 61 million reais ($12 million) from Vorcaro. The funds were purportedly intended for producing “The Dark Horse,” a film about his father, the imprisoned ex-President Jair Bolsonaro. Allegedly, Senator Bolsonaro requested additional funds beyond the initial amount.
Vorcaro, formerly the CEO of the defunct Banco Master, stands at the center of a significant corruption scandal implicating numerous high-ranking officials since early this year. Accusations against him include swindling Banco Master’s 800,000 clients, such as several state government pension funds, out of hundreds of millions of dollars through dubious investments.
Federal investigators in Brazil estimate the bank’s fraudulent activities to total around 12 billion reais ($2.3 billion). Both the federal police and the Supreme Court are actively probing the case.
Senator Bolsonaro has defended his actions, stating, “Our case is of a son seeking PRIVATE sponsorship for a PRIVATE film about his father’s story. No public money.” He emphasized, “I did not offer any (illegal) advantages in exchange. I did not have private encounters. I did not intermediate business with the government. I did not receive money.”
Prior to the public release of his communications with Vorcaro, Senator Bolsonaro assured journalists in Brasilia of his disassociation with the banker. Similar denials were issued in March following media reports linking his number to Vorcaro’s confiscated cellphones.
In September, a voice message revealed Senator Bolsonaro expressing discomfort in seeking Vorcaro’s financial support, citing the film’s crucial juncture. “There’s many payments that are late, everyone is tense, and I am here worried about getting the opposite effect of that we dreamed for this movie,” he conveyed to Vorcaro. The senator had intentions of releasing the film during the final leg of his campaign.
Further communications in October and November underscored his efforts to secure funding. “Don’t even think of us not paying (actor) Jim Caviezel, Cyrus (Nowrasteh, the film’s director). People of a high name in American and world cinema,” he urged in a November message. Vorcaro responded, indicating a willingness to provide funds the following day.
Political analyst Thomas Traumann commented on the potential ramifications of these revelations for Bolsonaro’s campaign, particularly as the Liberal Party prepares for its convention. He noted that, “As Flávio Bolsonaro is an unknown politician whose biggest asset is being the son of the former president, a scandal like this could have a devastating impact.”
Vorcaro, apprehended in March, is reportedly negotiating a plea bargain with authorities. Banco Master, which held assets surpassing $16 billion, was closed by Brazil’s Central Bank in November.
In the wake of the scandal, Flávio Bolsonaro and his supporters have attempted to shift blame onto Lula, albeit without substantiated claims. Additionally, former chief-of-staff for Jair Bolsonaro, Senator Ciro Nogueira, has refuted allegations of receiving payments from Vorcaro.
Allies of Lula in Congress have vowed to initiate a congressional probe into the ties between Flávio Bolsonaro and Vorcaro. Meanwhile, Bolsonaro and party leaders convened in Brasilia following the disclosures, with the senator departing without addressing the media.
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