Brazils Flávio Bolsonaro probed for money laundering over film financing tied to collapsed bank

Brazilian presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro is under investigation for corruption and money laundering tied to the financing of a film about his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, according to court documents unsealed on Friday.
The probe, opened in July by Supreme Court Justice André Mendonça at the request of federal police, centers on Bolsonaro’s alleged role in securing funds from Daniel Vorcaro, the former head of the collapsed Banco Master. Vorcaro, arrested in March, is accused of orchestrating one of Brazil’s largest financial frauds, with police alleging he transferred approximately 61 million reais (about $10.2 million) in 2025 for the film *Dark Horse*, a biopic portraying Jair Bolsonaro favorably. Investigators are examining the origin of the funds, the transfer routes, and their ultimate beneficiaries, with some payments reportedly directed to U.S.-based accounts linked to Bolsonaro’s family.
Bolsonaro, a senator and leading right-wing challenger to incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the Oct. 4 election, has denied wrongdoing, stating he sought private investment for the film. “I have nothing to hide,” he told AFP. The investigation is part of a broader inquiry into Banco Master’s collapse, which has ensnared central bank officials, politicians, and Supreme Court justices. On Thursday, Supreme Court President Edson Fachin ordered the release of thousands of pages of case files, though some details of Bolsonaro’s probe remain sealed.
Federal police have conducted raids, including searches at the homes and offices of 29 individuals, such as film producer Karina Ferreira da Gama and lawmaker Mario Frias, a former culture secretary under Jair Bolsonaro. Both are barred from leaving Brazil. The case has also sparked a dispute within the Supreme Court, with Justice Alexandre de Moraes accusing Mendonça of misconduct for disclosing documents suggesting contacts between Moraes and Vorcaro. A special court session on Sept. 15 will address the conflict.
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