When his supporters stormed Brazil’s Congress and presidential places of work on Sunday to protest what they falsely declare was a stolen election, Jair Bolsonaro was believed to be 1000’s of miles away.

Going through numerous investigations from his time in workplace, Mr. Bolsonaro flew to Florida in late December with plans to remain for at the very least a month. He has been in Orlando, residing in a rented home owned by knowledgeable mixed-martial-arts fighter a couple of miles from Disney World.

Mr. Bolsonaro has lengthy questioned the reliability of Brazil’s election methods — with out proof — and he refused to concede unequivocally when he misplaced in October to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who took workplace on Jan. 1.

But earlier than departing for Florida within the last days of his presidency, Mr. Bolsonaro known as on his supporters to keep away from violence and recommended that they transfer on.

“We reside in a democracy or we don’t,” he mentioned in a recorded assertion. “Nobody needs an journey.”

Sunday night, the previous president criticized the protests, saying on Twitter that peaceable demonstrations had been a part of democracy, however “destruction and invasions of public buildings, like what occurred right this moment,” weren’t. He additionally repudiated President Lula’s feedback that Mr. Bolsonaro bore some duty for the riots, saying these accusations had been “with out proof.”