US sanctions Brazil’s Supreme Court judge overseeing case against Bolsonaro

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes has been subject to sanctions by the US Department of the Treasury for his role in the ongoing trial of former president Jair Bolsonaro and alleged suppression of freedom of expression.

Bolsonaro is accused of conspiring to maintain control despite losing to current president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the presidential election of 2022. Donald Trump, the president of the United States, linked the new tariffs on Brazil to what he called a “witch hunt” against his right-wing allies.

Following Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s assertion in June that Washington was considering sanctioning the judge, the judge is scheduled to be notified on Wednesday of the sanctions being applied to Moraes, who is in charge of Bolsonaro’s case.

The Global Magnitsky Act, which the US has authorized to impose economic sanctions on foreigners who it believes have a history of corruption or human rights abuses, sanctioned Moraes.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated in a statement that “Alexandre de Moraes has taken it upon himself to serve as judge and jury in an unlawful witch hunt against US and Brazilian citizens and businesses. De Moraes is to blame for politicized prosecutions, including against former president Jair Bolsonaro, as well as an oppressive campaign of censorship and arbitrary detentions that violate human rights.

Moraes may have any assets or property he may own in the US, but the decision mandates the freezing of those assets.

A request for comment was not immediately responded to by Brazil’s Supreme Court and Presidential Palace.

According to allegations that he courted Trump’s interference, Moraes recently ordered Bolsonaro to stop using social media and wear an ankle bracelet.

Washington earlier this month increased tensions with the country’s largest economy by enforcing restrictions on Moraes, his family, and other unnamed court officials’ US visas.

Brazilian President Lula criticized the decision as “arbitrary” and “baseless,” and called for “unacceptable” foreign interference in the judiciary. The left-wing leader claimed in a statement that the US action violated fundamental values like respect and international law.

The Supreme Court issued search warrants and restraint orders in response to Bolsonaro’s claim that he planned a coup to overturn a 2022 election he lost, according to the case.

Trump criticized Bolsonaro’s prosecution in a letter sent in the middle of July when he announced a 50-percent tariff on Brazilian goods starting August 1.