Brazil has rejected visa applications from two U.S. Department of State officials over concerns that their visit could support groups questioning Brazil's electoral system, local media reported Saturday.
The officials were Riley M. Barnes, assistant secretary from the State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, and Samuel Samson, deputy assistant secretary from the same bureau.
The two submitted their visa applications to the Brazilian government on July 20, planning to meet with presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, as well as officials from Brazil's Superior Electoral Court and right-wing figures, according to reports.
The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Brazil will hold the first round of its presidential election on Oct. 4, with a potential runoff scheduled for Oct. 25, according to a schedule released by the Superior Electoral Court.
-XINHUA
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