Brazil Senator Bolsonaro seeks White House meeting amid campaign crisis, sources say

​Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro is seeking ​a meeting with President Donald Trump ‌in Washington, ​two people familiar with the matter said, as the presidential hopeful looks to turn the page on news of his ‌ties to a scandal-hit banker. One source said Bolsonaro is expected to fly to the U.S. on Monday ahead of a meeting with Trump at the White House next week. ‌A second source confirmed a White House invitation but could not specify the timing ‌of the encounter.

A spokesperson for the right-wing senator, the eldest son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Plans for the visit to Washington come as the senator's ⁠campaign weathers ​a crisis that has ⁠eroded his competitiveness in recent polling against the leftist incumbent, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, ahead of ⁠October elections. Bolsonaro was entangled this month in a scandal around a record-breaking bank fraud investigation after ​he confirmed reports that he lined up millions of dollars in funding for ⁠a film about his father from Daniel Vorcaro, a banker now jailed over accusations of bribing officials and ⁠defrauding ​investors.

Bolsonaro has said that their negotiations involved a private investment contract with no favors or impropriety involved. The senator had previously denied any contact with the banker. This week, ⁠the senator traveled to Sao Paulo for meetings to shore up support among business leaders, ⁠who have grown increasingly ⁠worried about his chances of beating Lula. He also met with senior members of his campaign team and replaced his head of communications.

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