[Trailer] Unvaxxed Former Brazil President Gets Home Raided, Aides Arrested in Vaccine Probe

There are many striking similarities between what’s happening here in America, and what’s happening in Brazil. For instance, the 2016 election, which saw a populist victory in Donald Trump, was mirrored in Brazil’s 2018 election, which saw a populist victory for Mr. Jair Bolsonaro. America’s January 6th was mirrored by Brazil’s January 8th — the so-called Brazilian attack on Congress. And more recently, just as President Trump’s home was raided in Florida — President Jair Bolsonaro also had his home raided over in Brazil. Specifically, last Wednesday, Brazilian police raided President Bolsonaro's home, arrested some of his close aides, and seized his cell phone as part of their probe into his COVID vaccination records. According to the official narrative, the Brazilian federal police found supposed evidence of someone tampering with President Bolsonaro's vaccine records, prior to him flying to the US. However, there is something odd about this probe. Because while it was the case that most foreign visitors needed to be vaccinated in order to enter the US, there were broad exceptions for diplomats, as well as high-level government officials from other countries. Furthermore, President Bolsonaro has been fairly public about his not getting the Covid vaccine himself. In fact, a few years ago, during the global UN Summit in New York City, there was a famous photo of President Bolsonaro standing outside a New York pizza shop eating a slice on the street, because he wasn’t allowed to enter the establishment without proof of vaccination. Even after this police raid on his home, here’s what he said in a statement: "For my part, there was nothing falsified. I didn't take the vaccine. Period.” With all that as the background, it’s worth mentioning that this raid, as well as the arrest of his aides, didn’t necessarily come as a surprise to President Bolsonaro. In fact, while he was here in the US — I was the last American journalist to interview President Bolsonaro prior to him returning to Brazil — and I asked him directly about whether or not he expected to be arrested by the opposition party when he returned. Watch the interview for his response.