Washington (EFE).- The United States imposed financial sanctions on Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who recently ordered precautionary measures against former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2023), including an ankle monitor, a social media ban, and a nighttime curfew.
The US Treasury Department said the sanctions fall under the Global Magnitsky Act, a law that authorizes the US government to penalize foreign nationals involved in corruption or human rights violations.
“This is a targeted measure in response to politically motivated judicial actions,” said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
“De Moraes is responsible for a repressive campaign of censorship, arbitrary detentions, and politicized prosecutions, including the case against former President Jair Bolsonaro,” he added.
The sanctions freeze any assets De Moraes may hold in the US and prohibit all US persons from conducting transactions with him.
Pressure campaign backed by Trump
The move escalates a broader campaign led by the administration of Donald Trump, a close ally of Bolsonaro.
On Jul. 18, the US revoked De Moraes’s visa, barring him from entering the country.
The recent sanctions add a financial dimension to that pressure.
Trump, who has labeled Bolsonaro’s prosecution a “witch hunt,” also announced a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports, citing concerns over political repression.
“We will continue to hold accountable those who threaten American interests and the freedoms of our citizens,” Bessent added.
Bolsonaro is accused of leading a failed coup plot alongside former ministers and senior military officials after losing the 2022 presidential election to Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
In response to the sanctions, Lula reiterated Brazil’s national sovereignty and warned of potential trade retaliations.
International legal tensions grow
The measures against De Moraes have drawn criticism and widened the rift between Washington and Brasília.
While the Brazilian government has yet to issue an official response, Lula’s team has hinted at possible diplomatic escalation.
This case adds to recent US interventions in Latin America legal affairs.
Earlier this month, Washington condemned the Colombian Supreme Court’s ruling against former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe for alleged procedural fraud and witness tampering.
Despite international criticism, De Moraes has defended his actions as necessary to “preserve democratic order” in Brazil.
However, opponents argue the judiciary has overstepped by targeting political rivals. EFE
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