The US Treasury Department announced Wednesday that it would impose sanctions on Brazil’s Supreme Court Judge Alexandre des Mores.
“De Moraise is responsible for censorship, arbitrary detention in violation of human rights, and for politicized prosecutions against former President Jae Bolsonaro,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bescent said in a statement.
Bolsonaro is on trial in the Supreme Court and has been accused of leading an attempt to launch a coup to overturn the 2022 election, losing to leftist Luis Inacio Lula da Silva and trying to remain in power.
President Lula condemned the sanctions against X, claiming that “US government interference in Brazil’s justice is unacceptable.”
He also emphasized that “the Brazilian government is in solidarity with the de Moraes.”
Without naming Bolsonaro, Lula added that de Moraes is “targeted by sanctions motivated by the actions of Brazilian Pois scientists who betray those who defend their hometown and their interests.”
President Donald Trump has previously expressed his support for Bolsonaro, comparing the situation of the former Brazilian president with his own legal battle, claiming the trial is a “witch hunt.”
At the beginning of July, Trump imposed a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports, directly linking the import tax to the trial against Bolsonaro.
On Wednesday, the US President signed an emergency order to effectively implement these tariffs, citing Brazil’s “recent policies, practices and actions” as a threat to the US national security, foreign policy and the economy.
Bolsonaro’s son Eduardo praised the US Treasury announcement, which he praised as a “historic milestone.”
Eduardo Bolsonaro moved to the US in March and is currently investigating it in collaboration with US authorities to impose sanctions against Brazilian authorities.
