Congressman calls for ‘authoritarian’ Bolsonaro’s extradition to Brazil [Video]

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Rep. Joaquin Castro (R-TX) called on the Biden administration to extradite former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.
• Following his election loss, Bolsonaro’s supporters stormed the government buildings while the former president remained in Florida.
• Castro declared that the U.S. should not be a refuge for an “authoritarian” who’s “been hiding from accountability.”

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro should be extradited to his country, Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro (D) declared, saying that the violent post-election protests in the capital city of Brasilia seemed to be taken from “the Trump playbook.”

Bolsonaro was endorsed by former President Donald Trump and even accepted the nickname “Trump of the Tropics.” Before the counting of the ballots even started, Bolsonaro spread unproven claims of election fraud.

Bolsonaro ultimately lost to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who was inaugurated earlier this month. The former president is now staying in Florida, at a house he rented near Disney, just south of Orlando.

Supporters of Bolsonaro have camped out in the capital city for months. On Sunday, they violently clashed with law enforcement as they knocked down metal barricades and swarmed into government buildings housing the presidential palace and offices, the Brazilian Congress, and Supreme Court. The scenes appeared similar to the Jan. 6, 2021 storming of the Capitol.

Speaking with CNN Newsroom‘s Jim Acosta on Sunday, Castro agreed that the protests in Brazil seemed like a “replay of January 6th.”

Castro called Bolsonaro “an authoritarian leader” who “basically used the Trump playbook to inspire domestic terrorists to try to take over the government.”

Castro remarked that Bolsonaro, who is reportedly under investigation for corruption, “should be extradited to Brazil.”

Citing the border crisis, Castro argued that “Republicans make a big deal and try to scare people” about “bad people” illegally coming into the U.S. He pointed out that Bolsonaro is “a dangerous man” who should be sent back to his country.

When asked if he was calling on the Biden administration or Florida’s authorities, Castro agreed.

“Bolsonaro should not be in Florida,” Castro declared. “The United States should not be a refuge for this authoritarian who has inspired domestic terrorism in Brazil. He should be sent back to Brazil.”

The Texas congressman made a similar statement on Twitter, where he wrote that Bolsonaro “must not be given refuge in Florida, where he’s been hiding from accountability for his crime.”

Source: MEDIAITE