The US froze Judge Moraes’s assets, citing his role in arbitrary detentions, censorship, and cases against Bolsonaro.
Published On 30 Jul 2025
Brazil has criticised the US Treasury Department’s decision to impose sanctions on its Supreme Court Justice, Alexandre de Moraes, over alleged suppression of freedom of expression and the ongoing trial of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.
Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva also released a statement on Wednesday condemning what he called the “US government’s interference in the Brazilian justice system”.
“The Brazilian government stands in solidarity with [Moraes], who is the target of sanctions motivated by the actions of Brazilian politicians who betray our country and our people in defence of their own interests,” President Lula said, without naming Bolsonaro.
Moraes is overseeing a case against Bolsonaro, who stands accused of masterminding a plot to orchestrate a coup and stay in power after his 2022 election defeat to Lula.
Announcing sanctions against Moraes earlier on Wednesday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the Brazilian Supreme Court justice had “taken it upon himself to be judge and jury in an unlawful witch-hunt”.
“De Moraes is responsible for an oppressive campaign of censorship, arbitrary detentions that violate human rights, and politicised prosecutions – including against former President Jair Bolsonaro,” Bessent said.
Moraes was sanctioned under the Global Magnitsky Act, which allows the US to impose economic penalties against foreigners it considers to have a record of corruption or human rights abuses.
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