Flavio Bolsonaro campaign faces crisis over publicist Thiago Miranda's ties to fraud probe

Flavio Bolsonaro's presidential bid is being jeopardized by the involvement of publicist Thiago Miranda, who is under Federal Police scrutiny in the tenth phase of Operação Compliance Zero. Investigators say Miranda acted as the key conduit between the senator and Daniel Vorcaro, the former owner of Banco Master, whose liquidation followed a massive fraud investigation that froze assets exceeding R$5.7 billion.

Miranda facilitated Vorcaro's R$62 million investment in the film “Dark Horse,” a biopic about Jair Bolsonaro, and later negotiated a total sponsorship contract of R$134 million. He is also accused of running “Project DV,” a scheme that paid digital influencers up to R$2 million to spread disinformation and attack officials such as Finance Minister Fernando Haddad and Central Bank President Gabriel Galípolo. Journalists who refused payment were allegedly intimidated with private data.

Allies of Flavio Bolsonaro fear Miranda could become the “bomb” that collapses the PL campaign, especially after reports that he warned he would not assume responsibility alone if charged, potentially implicating other political figures. The investigation was authorized by STF minister André Mendonça, linking fraud proceeds to a coordinated disinformation effort.