Washington is aiming legal action at the judge presiding over the trial of ex-President Bolsonaro.
In a move that has escalated tensions between the United States and Brazil, the Trump administration has imposed sanctions on Alexandre de Moraes, a Supreme Court justice in Brazil, and announced a 50% tariff on Brazilian products exported to the US.
The sanctions, announced on Wednesday, come in response to alleged human rights abuses by de Moraes, including arbitrary detentions and censorship. According to the US Treasury Department, de Moraes is responsible for a politically motivated crackdown involving unjust detentions and censorship, including the temporary shutdown of Elon Musk's social media platform X in Brazil.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio characterized de Moraes’ actions as abuses of authority and violations of freedom of expression. The US Treasury described de Moraes as a person responsible for an alleged "witch hunt" against former president Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently being tried for suspected coup attempt.
De Moraes, who has become a target of the Bolsonaro camp, has stated he will "ignore" the sanctions and continue to work. The judge has also accused those in the Bolsonaro camp of seeking to stimulate an economic crisis and provoke social instability, enabling a new coup attempt.
The Supreme Court of Brazil, where de Moraes serves, has adopted a firm stance on the fight against disinformation on platforms. De Moraes has been overseeing the trial of Bolsonaro, who is accused of conspiring with close collaborators to stay in power despite his defeat in the 2022 election against Lula da Silva, facing over 40 years in prison.
The Brazilian government has defended its sovereignty in response to the tariffs, with President Lula da Silva stating that he and his government are open to dialogue. Since early July, there has been a crisis between the governments of Donald Trump and left-wing Brazilian president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, with no direct communication between the two leaders.
The White House occupant expressed a liking for the Brazilian people while denouncing those who run Brazil. However, the occupant has also stated that he can talk to the Brazilian president whenever he wants. The Brazilian government is betting on negotiation to win the case against the imposed tariffs.
Protests against the tariffs have gathered a few hundred people in front of the US embassy and consulate in Brazil. In São Paulo, protesters burned a portrait of Donald Trump adorned with devil's horns and displayed a banner reading "Sovereignty is not negotiable".
Despite the sanctions and tariffs, de Moraes has remained firm in his commitment to the defense of national sovereignty and democracy. He stated that he would be "absolutely unyielding" in this regard, emphasizing the importance of upholding the rule of law in Brazil.
[1] US Treasury Department announcement [2] BBC News article [3] Reuters article
- The US has imposed sanctions on Alexandre de Moraes, a Brazilian Supreme Court justice, due to his alleged involvement in war-and-conflicts, such as arbitrary detentions and censorship, which has raised political tensions.
- In addition to the sanctions, the Trump administration announced a 50% tariff on Brazilian products, a move that has been criticized by the Brazilian government.
- De Moraes' involvement in casino-and-gambling industries, particularly poker, has not been a focus of the US sanctions, but his policy-and-legislation decisions regarding casino-games have stirred debates within Brazil's politics.
- General-news outlets, including BBC News and Reuters, have reported on the crisis between the US and Brazil, including protests against the tariffs, while crime-and-justice concerns have also arisen from de Moraes' role in the trial of former president Jair Bolsonaro.
