São Paulo, Brazil – Authorities in Brazil are seeking the extradition of a federal lawmaker who fled to Italy.
Carla Zambelli, a congresswoman and one of the most vocal allies of former President Jair Bolsonaro, fled Brazil in late May, days after being sentenced to 10 years and eight months in prison by the country’s Supreme Federal Court. She was convicted of hacking into the electronic systems of Brazil’s National Justice Council between 2022 and 2023.
On May 25, Zambelli crossed the border into Puerto Iguazú, Argentina, from the Brazilian city of Foz do Iguaçu. From Argentina, she flew to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where she gave interviews to Brazilian media outlets, confirming her departure and claiming she was the victim of political persecution by the judiciary. She also stated her intention to denounce abroad what she described as abuses committed against her and Brazil’s political right.
At one point, Zambelli said she was considering seeking asylum with the Trump administration. But on June 5, she landed in Rome. A dual citizen of Italy, Zambelli told CNN Brasil that she felt “untouchable” in Italy when asked about the possibility of extradition.
Now officially listed as a fugitive, Zambelli’s name has been added to Interpol’s red notice list. On Friday, June 6, Brazil’s Supreme Court rejected appeals filed by her legal team.
The following day, Justice Alexandre de Moraes converted a previously issued preventive arrest warrant into a definitive prison order, mandating the immediate execution of her sentence. He also instructed the Brazilian government to request her extradition from Italy. The conviction further orders that Zambelli be stripped of her seat in Congress.
Starting Monday, June 9, Brazil’s Supreme Court begins questioning defendants in a separate criminal case involving an alleged attempt to overthrow the government following the 2022 presidential election. Former President Bolsonaro is among those charged and is expected to testify on Tuesday.
Although Zambelli is not implicated in the alleged coup plot—she was neither investigated nor charged—her escape has alarmed Bolsonaro’s allies.
Many fear that her move could lead the court to take a tougher stance on other defendants involved in the coup plot case. One measure reportedly under consideration is requiring those individuals to surrender their passports as the proceedings move forward, to prevent potential escapes.
Featured image: Carla Zambelli during a session in the Chamber of Deputies in November 2024 (photo credit: Mário Agra / via Câmara dos Deputados)
