U.s. Sanctions Brazilian Judge Targeted By Trump Over Bolsonaro Case

The U.S. Treasury Department connected Wednesday imposed sanctions connected Brazilian Supreme Federal Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who has been a target of disapproval by President Donald Trump for his handling of ineligible cases involving erstwhile Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.

The sanctions travel 5 months aft Trump’s societal media company, Trump Media, sued de Moraes for complete an bid by nan justness to nan video hosting institution Rumble to suspend nan accounts of a “well-known politically outspoken user” of Rumble, whose services Trump Media uses.

They besides travel 2 days earlier Trump has said he will enforce tariffs of 50% connected imports from Brazil, which Trump says are partially successful retaliation for nan ongoing criminal prosecution of Bolsonaro, an state of his.

De Moraes past twelvemonth drew nan ire of mega-billionaire Elon Musk, who astatine nan clip was a adjacent state complete Trump, by blocking Musk’s X societal media level nationwide successful Brazil for failing to comply pinch orders banning immoderate personification accounts and to region definite content.

“Alexandre de Moraes has taken it upon himself to beryllium judge and assemblage successful an unlawful witch hunt against U.S. and Brazilian citizens and companies,” said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent successful a connection Wednesday announcing nan sanctions, which would artifact immoderate spot de Moraes mightiness person successful nan United States.

“De Moraes is responsible for an oppressive run of censorship, arbitrary detentions that break quality rights, and politicized prosecutions — including against erstwhile President Jair Bolsonaro,” Bessent said.

“Today’s action makes clear that Treasury will proceed to clasp accountable those who frighten U.S. interests and nan freedoms of our citizens.”

The Washington Post connected July 17 reported that Eduardo Bolsonaro, a boy of Bolsonaro, was “working intimately pinch nan White House to enforce sanctions on” de Moraes. Eduardo Bolsonaro is simply a national congressman successful Brazil.

De Moraes is nan alleged rapporteur of cases against Jair Bolsonaro, and is sitting connected a five-judge Supreme Court sheet that is overseeing nan erstwhile president’s proceedings for allegedly trying to shape a coup against sitting Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, and different charges.