Brazil Court Probes Foreign Support for Bolsonaro Campaign

A Brazilian Supreme Court justice ordered federal police to open a probe into possible foreign interference in the country’s presidential election, including potential funding for defeated candidate Flávio Bolsonaro’s campaign.

Justice Flávio Dino ordered investigators to examine possible use of foreign resources, services or other benefits provided to political campaigns, according to a court filing published Tuesday. He also asked police to investigate whether intermediaries were used to conceal them.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva defeated Bolsonaro in a runoff election on Sunday, following a campaign marked by accusations of improper influence by social media companies and other foreign actors.

Dino stressed that the order doesn’t establish that illegal foreign financing occurred, but said allegations warrant an investigation.

A spokesperson for Bolsonaro didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Brazilian law prohibits candidates and political parties from receiving money or other economically-valuable assistance from foreign entities or governments. Dino said that prohibition extends beyond direct cash contributions to services and other benefits.

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