Brazil Supreme Court orders Chamber to explain Deputy Mario Frias' overseas trips

Supreme Court minister Flávio Dino gave the Chamber of Deputies a 48‑hour deadline to clarify Deputy Mario Frias' recent trips to Bahrain and the United States. The court’s justice service was unable to serve Frias directly after multiple attempts, and even found that the deputy no longer resides at his registered Brasília address.

Frias, a PL‑SP lawmaker, said the Bahrain visit was to “propose investments in Brazil” and the U.S. trip to scout security‑public‑order investment, adding that he has a return ticket and a family in Brazil. He is also under a preliminary STF investigation for allegedly diverting R$ 2 million in parliamentary amendments to an NGO linked to the production of a biographical film about former President Jair Bolsonaro. The probe was initiated by a complaint from Deputy Tabata Amaral, while Frias maintains the amendments were proper and cites a Chamber legal opinion supporting his actions.