Brazilian Federal Police opened an inquiry on October 27 into potential United States campaign funding for defeated presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro, following orders from Supreme Court Justice Flávio Dino.
The federal inquiry examines ties between Brazilian entrepreneurs Tallis Gomes and Pedro Sang and the Rockbridge Network, a conservative US organization co-founded by US Vice President J.D. Vance, as reported by Payday Report. Investigators will determine if these interactions brought any financial transfers or valuable services to Bolsonaro’s campaign.
The probe also covers paid electoral advertising run by foreign accounts favoring the senator, including posts using data from Polymarket, a foreign election betting platform prohibited in Brazil. Justice Dino pointed to suspicions that digital platforms treated candidates unequally, noting potential algorithmic manipulation favoring Bolsonaro and singling out Meta for criticism over its platforms Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
Brazilian law strictly prohibits political parties from receiving foreign financial resources or remaining subordinate to foreign entities under Law No. 9.096/1995 and Article 17 of the Federal Constitution. If investigators prove these irregularities, the Superior Electoral Court could revoke the legal registration of Bolsonaro’s Liberal Party.
Justice Dino emphasized national sovereignty in his order, writing that “direct or indirect interference by a foreign state in matters subject to the sovereignty of the Federative Republic of Brazil is impermissible.” “possible link between electoral support and the economic interests of foreign agents over Brazil's rare earths and critical minerals,” Justice Dino ordered the Federal Police to clarify.
Bolsonaro lost the presidential runoff election to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on October 25. Both Lula’s campaign and Missão candidate Renan Santos, who secured nearly 2.7 million votes or 2.25% in the first round, petitioned the court regarding foreign interference.
Bolsonaro’s campaign denied receiving any foreign resources or support infrastructure. Gomes denied participating in electoral fundraising, donations, or resource brokering. The Rockbridge Network stated its plans to establish operations in Brazil did not move forward and that it funded no political activities in the country.
After Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered him to surrender his passports, Bolsonaro left Brazil and currently resides in the United States with his family, according to Payday Report.
