In 2021, Brazil’s former President Jair Bolsonaro kicked off the United Nations General Assembly by touting the use of ineffective drugs and “off-label” therapies to treat the coronavirus. That trip to the U.S. made for some awkward moments and logistical problems due to Mr. Bolsonaro’s unvaccinated status.
“History and science will hold everyone accountable,” Mr. Bolsonaro said at the time. Apparently, his comeuppance may come much sooner. The Federal Police have launched an investigation into whether the far-right former president forged vaccination records belonging to him and a member of his family upon entering the U.S. late last year.
Marshals on Wednesday carried out multiple search-and-seizure warrants — including in one of Mr. Bolsonaro’s homes — and arrested six people, including a military officer who served as his closest aide during his presidency. All are believed to have participated in a scheme to defraud public records.
Mr. Bolsonaro left Brazil for Florida on December 30, 2022, where he stayed for three months before returning to Brazil. The U.S. only requires noncitizens to be vaccinated before entering the country. (The act of possessing false, forged, or counterfeit documents intended to defraud the U.S. is a federal crime under American law and could lead to up to five years in federal prison.)
According to investigators, the Health...
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