São Paulo, Brazil – Carla Zambelli, a Brazilian congresswoman and one of former President Jair Bolsonaro’s most loyal allies, has fled the country following her conviction and sentencing by Brazil’s Supreme Court.
Two weeks ago, Zambelli was sentenced to 10 years in prison and stripped of her parliamentary mandate for crimes including ideological falsehood and unlawful computer invasion, carried out in collaboration with Brazilian hacker Walter Delgatti Neto.
According to prosecutors, under Zambelli’s direction, Delgatti breached the security systems of Brazil’s National Justice Council between 2022 and 2023. The hacker allegedly tampered with official documents—such as certificates, arrest warrants, release orders, and banking secrecy authorizations—in what prosecutors described as a deliberate effort to undermine the judiciary and erode public trust in the country’s institutions.
Zambelli’s legal team has appealed the ruling, seeking her acquittal. The appeal is scheduled to be reviewed this Friday, June 6.
On Tuesday, Zambelli gave interviews to Brazilian media outlets, confirming that she had traveled to the United States, where she regularly undergoes medical treatment. She announced that she does not intend to return to Brazil, claiming that the country is now under a “dictatorship” that persecutes right-wing politicians and prevents her from fulfilling her legislative duties. Zambelli said she would take her case to the international stage to expose what she described as abuses by Brazilian authorities, particularly the judiciary.
(photo credit: Vinicius Loures / via Câmara dos Deputados)
On Wednesday, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes granted a request from the Prosecutor General’s Office to issue a preventive arrest warrant for Zambelli. He also ordered Brazil’s Federal Police to request that Interpol issue a red notice for her capture abroad and extradition to Brazil.
In his ruling, Justice de Moraes wrote that “by fleeing the jurisdiction, the defendant has made clear her intention to persist in her criminal conduct, attempting to discredit Brazilian institutions and attack the very foundations of the democratic rule of law. This fully justifies the order for her preventive detention.” The arrest order has also been formally submitted to the lower house of Congress.
Zambelli initially stated her intention to travel from the United States to Italy, where she holds citizenship, as part of what she called an international crusade to denounce political persecution in Brazil. However, following the issuance of the arrest warrant, she is reportedly reconsidering her strategy.
The lawmaker has now indicated that she may remain in Florida and seek political asylum from the administration of President Donald Trump. The shift in plans reflects concerns that the Italian government could more easily comply with an extradition request from Brazilian authorities.
Under Brazilian law, as a sitting member of Congress, Zambelli can only be detained if the arrest is formally approved by the Chamber of Deputies. No date has been set for lawmakers to deliberate on the matter.
In Brazil’s 2022 general elections, Zambelli, a prominent member of the Liberal Party—the same political party as Bolsonaro—was the most-voted woman in the country, winning 946,244 votes and securing her second consecutive term in the Chamber of Deputies.
Featured image: Carla Zambelli speaks during a congressional session in December 2024 (photo credit: Bruno Spada / via Câmara dos Deputados)
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