This archive report was first published on 23 June 2020.
On June 18, 2020, Milton Rappaport Weintraub, Brazil's former education minister, announced his resignation, citing a job offer at the World Bank. However, his departure from Brazil on June 19, 2020, raised suspicions that he was trying to avoid a corruption probe.
The Supreme Court in Brazil had rejected Weintraub's request to be excluded from the investigation, which centered on allegations that members of President Jair Bolsonaro's inner circle ran a fake news campaign to slander the high court's judges.
Opposition politicians in Brazil called for an investigation into whether Weintraub used his diplomatic passport to enter the United States, which currently restricts arrivals from Brazil due to the coronavirus pandemic.
On Twitter, Weintraub expressed gratitude to those who helped him reach the United States safely, fueling accusations that he was trying to flee from justice.
As education minister, Weintraub had become a polarizing figure, known for his controversial comments and actions, including tweeting anti-Chinese remarks, making light of Nazi atrocities, and criticizing the Supreme Court's justices.
Brazilian media reported that Weintraub was in Miami, and his spokeswoman declined to comment on whether he had traveled with his diplomatic passport.
