Brazil’s Federal Police searched the home of former President Jair Bolsonaro early Wednesday morning as part of an investigation into falsified COVID data, according to multiple Brazilian outlets.
Police arrived at Bolsonaro’s mansion in the capital of Brasília just after 9 a.m., local time. Authorities also seized his and his wife Michelle Bolsonaro’s phones and arrested six people — including one of his closest aides, Mauro Cid Barbosa.
Two of Bolsonaros’ security guards, Max Guilherme and Sérgio Corderio, were also arrested, according to Brazilian newsmagazine CartaCapital.
The Federal Police confirmed the arrest of six people in Brasília and Rio de Janeiro in connection with the investigation.
According to a news release, officers also carried out 16 searches related to the “criminal practice” of inserting false COVID-19 vaccination data into the nation’s ministry of health database. The alleged falsification of documents took place between November 2021 and December 2022.
Brazilian news portal G1 reported the investigation is related to the falsification of COVID vaccine cards, which were altered so people who were not fully vaccinated could travel to countries that required proof of vaccination — including the U.S.
The supposed altered documents include those of the former far-right president and his youngest daughter, 12-year-old Laura.
Bolsonaro’s ally Barbosa, who was arrested Wednesday, as well as his wife and daughter, are also thought to have benefitted from the bogus COVID vaccine certificates.
Bolsonaro has denied any wrongdoing.
“For my part, there was nothing falsified,” he told reporters Wednesday morning. “I didn’t take the vaccine. Period.”
The 68-year-old populist former president is a notorious COVID-19 vaccine skeptic and hydroxychloroquine-believer who famously described COVID-19 as a “little flu.” He angered critics in Brazil and abroad for downplaying the seriousness of the virus during his turbulent presidency.
He lost his reelection bid to President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva in November. Two days before Lula’s inauguration, in late December, he flew to Florida, where he spent the next three months.
Bolsonaro, a vocal admirer of former President Donald Trump falsely claimed the election was rigged. He also refused to concede to his successor.
“Good morning and [have] a great Wednesday!” Lula tweeted Wednesday morning, shortly after the news broke.