Brazilian Senator and presidential contender Flavio Bolsonaro said he met with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on ​Wednesday, following an Oval Office visit with President ​Donald Trump the day before.

The meetings come as ⁠the senator navigates a political crisis sparked after ​he acknowledged that he asked a now-jailed banker for ​money to fund a film about his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro. The senator has denied any wrongdoing.

The senator lost ​ground in opinion polls after the case went public ​this month, although he remains mostly statistically tied with President Luiz ‌Inacio ⁠Lula da Silva in second-round scenarios for the October election.

The talks with US authorities this week included discussions on fighting organised crime, rare earths and freedom of ​expression, according ​to the ⁠senator.

The health condition of his father, who is serving a 27-year sentence ​under house arrest after being convicted ​of ⁠plotting a coup, was also addressed, including during the meeting with Trump in the Oval Office, Bolsonaro ⁠said.

​Lula met with Trump at the ​White House earlier this month.