Flávio Bolsonaro

Flávio Bolsonaro, a Brazilian senator and son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, has been involved in multiple controversies and legal investigations, though many have not resulted in convictions. One of the most prominent cases is the "rachadinha" scheme, where he was accused of participating in a scheme to divert public funds through his former office at the Rio de Janeiro Legislative Assembly (Alerj). Despite multiple attempts by the Public Prosecutor's Office to revive investigations, including requests for bank and fiscal data, the courts have consistently denied these efforts, citing procedural and legal reasons such as the case being prescriptive or the evidence being annulled by higher courts. Notably, in March 2026, the Court of Justice of Rio de Janeiro (TJ-RJ) rejected a new attempt to restart the investigation (Folha). Additionally, in March 2026, Flávio was formally denounced by the Public Ministry of Rio de Janeiro for participating in money laundering linked to the criminal activities of Adriano da Nóbrega, a militiaman associated with illegal activities, including the "jogo do bicho" (an illegal gambling game). The accusation involves the movement and concealment of illicit funds, with the MP alleging that Flávio's former aide, Raimunda Veras Magalhães, was involved (Folha). In May 2026, further revelations emerged regarding Flávio's involvement in attempting to secure funds from the ex-banqueiro Daniel Vorcaro to finance a film about Jair Bolsonaro’s life. Flávio admitted to seeking private sponsorship but denied any illegal activity, stating the funds were for a private project and not public money (Valor Econômico). The investigation into these financial dealings is ongoing, with reports indicating that Flávio engaged in discussions about payments and was involved in negotiations, although he maintains that his actions were lawful and related solely to private interests. Moreover, Flávio has faced other legal challenges, including an investigation opened by the Supreme Federal Court (STF) for alleged calumny against President Lula, related to social media posts accusing Lula of crimes (G1). Overall, while Flávio Bolsonaro has been embroiled in multiple allegations and investigations, many charges have not led to convictions, and some cases have been dismissed or remain under judicial review as of May 2026.