Sanctions Imposed on Brazilian Supreme Court Judge
On Wednesday, the Treasury Ministry announced new sanctions against Judge Alexandre de Moraes of Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court. This move follows President Trump’s earlier threats of imposing 50% tariffs on Brazilian products unless Brazil halted what he deemed politically motivated lawsuits against former President Jair Bolsonaro. Reports allege that Judge de Moraes has used his judicial power to enforce “arbitrary” detentions, restrict free speech, and target political adversaries.
“Alexandre de Moraes has positioned himself as both a judge and an enforcer in this unjust campaign against us and Brazilian citizens,” stated Treasury Secretary Scott Bescent. He continued to say that de Moraes is linked to a widespread repression associated with human rights abuses, censorship, and politically charged prosecutions aimed at Bolsonaro.
Bescent emphasized that the Treasury would maintain accountability for actions threatening civil liberties and interests. The sanctions effectively freeze all of de Moraes’ properties and assets that are located in the U.S. or owned by American citizens. This also extends to assets where he holds a stake of 50% or more.
The sanctions also pose risks to firms or financial institutions that engage in activities considered to violate the imposed sanctions against de Moraes.
These sanctions emerge from the Trump administration’s adherence to Executive Order 13818, enacted in response to global human rights violations and corruption concerns. This is linked to the Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act established in 2016.
Rumors suggest that these U.S. sanctions may have been influenced by Eduardo Bolsonaro, the former president’s son, who is believed to have worked alongside the White House on this matter.
Judge de Moraes is presiding over the case against Bolsonaro, which has recently advanced following a detailed 884-page report by Brazilian prosecutor Paulo Gonette. This report claims that Bolsonaro, while still in office, orchestrated efforts to undermine public confidence in the electoral system, manipulating circumstances to present a façade of legality.
In March, Brazil’s Supreme Court accepted charges against Bolsonaro, ordering him to face trial. The judges unanimously agreed to pursue the charges, including serious accusations of plotting against current officials and undermining the judicial framework.
