The United States Treasury Department has officially imposed sanctions against Alexandre de Moraes, a Brazilian Supreme Court justice. On Wednesday, officials accused De Moraes of abusing his authority while investigating former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. The Treasury Department said De Moraes had violated human rights and targeted political opponents unfairly.
According to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, De Moraes engaged in unlawful detentions and harsh censorship. “De Moraes is acting as judge and jury in a political witch hunt,” Bessent declared at the press briefing. He also warned that such actions threaten U.S. interests and American citizens connected to Brazil. As a result of the sanctions, De Moraes’s assets in the U.S. have been frozen.
That includes any financial holdings where he owns 50% or more. Moreover, U.S. companies and banks involved with De Moraes now risk facing secondary sanctions. These new penalties follow President Trump’s recent warning to Brazil regarding the Bolsonaro investigation. Trump previously threatened a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports if the prosecution continued.
U.S. officials claim the Bolsonaro case is politically motivated and lacks legal merit. Treasury leaders said the sanctions stem from Executive Order 13818, issued during Trump’s first term. That 2017 order allows the U.S. to sanction foreign officials tied to human rights violations.
It expands upon the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act passed in 2016. Reports surfaced earlier this month that Bolsonaro’s son, Eduardo, lobbied the U.S. to act. He allegedly coordinated with the White House to pressure officials into sanctioning De Moraes. Currently, De Moraes leads the criminal case against Bolsonaro, acting as the court’s official rapporteur. The case accuses Bolsonaro of organizing a failed coup after losing to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Brazilian prosecutors allege Bolsonaro spread false claims to undermine trust in the electoral process. They claim he drafted fake legal decrees and pushed military leaders to support his actions. In March, Brazil’s top court accepted the charges and ordered Bolsonaro to stand trial. Shockingly, the case also includes allegations of attempted poisoning and murder plots.
Sanctions against Alexandre de Moraes mark a major escalation in U.S.–Brazil relations. As investigations continue, the international pressure on Brazil’s justice system will likely intensify. Ultimately, sanctions against Alexandre de Moraes could reshape how global leaders handle political prosecutions.
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