By EL ONORE HUGHES
AP’s Rio de Janeiro On Wednesday, the U.S. Treasury Department declared penalties against Justice Alexandre de Moraes of the Brazilian Supreme Court for allegedly suppressing free speech and the pending trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro.
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De Moraes is in charge of the criminal case against Bolsonaro, who is charged with orchestrating a scheme to maintain his position of authority in spite of losing the 2022 election to current President Luiz Incio Lula da Silva.
U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent stated in a statement that De Moraes is to blame for a campaign of censorship, arbitrary detentions that violate human rights, and politicized trials, including those against former President Jair Bolsonaro.
The Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, which targets corrupt officials and those who violate human rights, was cited by the Treasury as the legal basis for the sanctions.
Any assets or property de Moraes may own in the United States must be frozen, according to the ruling.
A request for comment was not immediately answered by the Presidential Palace or Brazil’s Supreme Court.
The announcement on Wednesday comes after the U.S. State Department announced on July 18 that Brazilian court officials, including de Moraes, would not be able to get visas.
Additionally, it follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of a 50% duty on imported products from Brazil that will take effect on Friday. Trump specifically connected the import tax to what he described as the ongoing witch hunt prosecution of Bolsonaro in Brazil in a letter announcing the tariff.
Bolsonaro was declared a flight risk and ordered to wear an ankle monitor a few days later.
Eduardo, Bolsonaro’s son, praised the Treasury’s announcement on X, describing it as a historic turning point and a reminder that abuses of power now have worldwide repercussions.
After moving to the United States in March, Eduardo Bolsonaror is currently being investigated for allegedly assisting American authorities in enforcing penalties against Brazilian politicians.
Go to https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america to follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean.
