Brazil Court Unseals Probe Into Flavio Bolsonaro Over Banco Master

Brazilian presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro is facing a corruption and money laundering investigation tied to the collapse of lender Banco Master. Newly unsealed court documents detail film financing allegations, upending a tight presidential race. The Supreme Court probe tests the political standing of the leading challenger just weeks before voters head to the polls.

"Investigate everything and everyone with transparency; show it to the press, show it to the people. Let's see who is right," said Senator Flavio Bolsonaro during a campaign event on Friday.

The Banco Master Investigation and Film Financing

Supreme Court Justice Andre Mendonca opened the inquiry in July following a request from federal police, according to a Reuters report. The investigation centers on the financing of "Dark Horse," a biographical film about former President Jair Bolsonaro that stars U.S. actor Jim Caviezel.

Investigators uncovered financial records during the review of the collapsed lender. Police data extracted from the cellphone of Banco Master owner Daniel Vorcaro indicated that approximately $12 million was transferred in 2025 to a U.S.-based fund linked to former lawmaker Eduardo Bolsonaro to assist with the movie's production.

Response From the Bolsonaro Family

Family members and political allies have pushed back against the allegations in the unsealed files, denying that the cross-border transfers constituted illicit payments or bribery.

"They want to frame this as bribe money, which it isn't. That's a lie," said Eduardo Bolsonaro regarding the U.S.-based fund transfers.

Electoral Stakes in Latin America's Largest Economy

The unsealing of the judicial proceedings injects legal uncertainty into Brazil's political contest. As investigators continue examining the institutional ties between failed financial institutions and political campaigns, the fallout threatens to reshape voter alignments in this critical election.