Rift in Brazil’s Supreme Court Following US Sanctions

According to Brazilian news source Poder360, the US government’s choice to place human rights sanctions on Justice Alexandre de Moraes has sparked a noticeable divide within the Supreme Federal Court (STF).

De Moraes had apparently urged his fellow justices to sign letters supporting him against President Trump’s administration and claimed there was an ongoing attempt to suppress conservative viewpoints in Brazil. However, the response from his peers was insufficient, resulting in a vague “institutional memo” that did not directly address the US sanctions, instead of a unified letter of condemnation.

Poder360 suggested that an attempt by socialist President Luiz Inácio Lula Da Silva to organize a dinner for all STF justices demonstrated limited effectiveness, given that only about half of the 11 justices attended. A left-wing publication confirmed that while Lula invited everyone, only six, including de Moraes, showed up.

De Moraes is known as a prominent figure in Brazil. During the administration of conservative former President Jair Bolsonaro, he initiated a national campaign against “fake news,” which led to aggressive actions against various conservative individuals, including comedians and journalists. He also played a significant role in the incarceration of former MP Daniel Silveira for critiquing the STF’s authoritative measures.

In recent developments, de Moraes has been involved in legal proceedings concerning Bolsonaro, with allegations of coup attempts and poisoning against Lula surfacing after the 2022 presidential election. Bolsonaro himself has faced aggressive legal actions ordered by de Moraes, receiving restrictions such as a ban from social media and being forced to wear an ankle monitor after Trump expressed support for him. De Moraes has even arrested Bolsonaro and threatened to make a public statement against him.

In response to de Moraes’ actions, the US State Department revoked his visa in July. Following that, the Treasury Department imposed human rights sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act, citing serious violations of civil rights in Brazil. The Trump administration also accused US entities of trying to undermine the rights of Brazilians and others supportive of conservative viewpoints through social media platforms.

“Today, the United States is sanctioning Brazil’s Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes for serious human rights abuses, including the denial of fair trial guarantees and arbitrary detention,” stated Secretary of State Marco Rubio in an announcement.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bescent echoed these sentiments, claiming de Moraes is responsible for censorship and politically motivated prosecutions, including actions against former President Bolsonaro.

President Trump has also declared Brazil a national security threat, attributing this to both Lula’s and de Moraes’ actions.

As a result of the newly imposed sanctions, de Moraes is now barred from using US banking services, and American individuals and businesses cannot engage with him.

His first public reaction to the sanctions involved a soccer game where he was seen making an obscene gesture on camera.

Poder360 later reported that, in an effort to organize a cohesive response, de Moraes had attempted to deliver his defense letter to his STF colleagues, only to find “no consensus” among them.

An anonymous source indicated that more than half of the justices felt it inappropriate for all to sign a document in reaction to the US government’s actions. This outcome disappointed de Moraes, who had hoped for unanimous support.

The dinner organized by Lula as a showcase of national unity before the imposition of US sanctions failed to achieve its intended effect, as five justices did not attend, revealing the ongoing divisions within the STF.

Lula aimed to portray a united front, but the absence of some justices highlighted the rift instead.

De Moraes made his first judicial appearance since the sanctions on Friday, using his time to condemn Representative Eduardo Bolsonaro, labeling him a “liar” and “traitor.” He insisted that the courts should “ignore” the sanctions.

Conservative MP Nicolas Ferreira announced plans to submit another impeachment request against de Moraes, which would be the 49th such move against him, as per Brazilian sources.