The Trump administration has given approval for the wife of Brazilian Supreme Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes. He is currently overseeing the inquiry into former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, a known ally of Trump, who was recently sentenced to close to 30 years in prison.
The ongoing tensions between Brazil and the Trump administration have led to scrutiny of Vivienne Barci de Moraes, along with her associated firm, Rex Institute.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bechent accused de Moraes of leading a campaign marked by censorship, arbitrary detentions, and politicized prosecution, which notably includes actions against Bolsonaro. He stated that the government will persist in targeting those who facilitate human rights violations linked to de Moraes.
De Moraes was part of the committee that cast votes leading to Bolsonaro’s 27-year jail sentence in early September. Bolsonaro faced conviction for attempting to hold on to power following his loss to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the 2022 elections.
In a related move, Secretary of State Marco Rubio cautioned Brazil that the U.S. is preparing to “respond” accordingly.
Sanctions from the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control will bar Americans from engaging in business with de Moraes’ wife.
Rubio stated that these sanctions are rooted in the actions taken under the Trump administration aiming to exploit authority, promote censorship, and unlawfully target political adversaries, while committing serious human rights violations. He emphasized that those who support detrimental foreign actors like de Moraes will be held accountable as a threat to U.S. interests.
In July, the U.S. revoked visas for de Moraes and others in Brazil’s Supreme Court, alongside a directive from Trump to increase Brazilian tariffs by 50%. The U.S. has accused de Moraes of using his judicial position to manipulate the legal system, permit arbitrary detentions, and curtail free speech.
Meanwhile, Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira stated there is “absolutely no space to negotiate” regarding Bolsonaro’s prosecution but mentioned, “even though it’s illegal, we’re open to discussing tariffs.”
