(Washington) The US Treasury Department announced on Wednesday a series of sanctions targeting the judge of the Brazilian Supreme Court Alexandre de Moraes, which Washington accuses of “arbitrary detentions” and non-compliance with “freedom of expression”.
The Treasury believes that Mr. de Moraes took advantage of his position to “target political opponents, including ex-president Jair Bolsonaro, journalists, American social networks and other American and international companies”.
The former Brazilian president, ally of Donald Trump, is prosecuted in his country for an alleged attempt at a coup after his defeat in the 2022 election.
“Alexandre de Moraes granted himself the right to be a judge and jury to orchestrate an illegal witch hunt against citizens and American and Brazilian companies. The sanctions of this day recall that the Treasury will keep responsible those who threaten the American interests and the freedom of our citizens, “said the secretary of the Treasury, Scott Bessent, quoted in a statement.
These sanctions lead to the freezing of all the assets held by Mr. de Moraes in the United States as well as the ban for American citizens or companies to do business with the Brazilian judge, under penalty of prosecution.
They complement those announced by the State Department on July 18, which were aimed at all the judges of the Supreme Court and their close relatives, who are all prohibited from entering the United States.
“That this serves as a warning to those who would like to flout the rights of their fellow citizens. A judge dress cannot protect you, “reacted the American secretary of state, Marco Rubio.
Jair Bolsonaro’s trial for an alleged coup attempt against the current left -wing president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva must end in the coming weeks. The ex-head of state (2019-2022) aged 70 years is at risk over 40 years in prison.
PHOTO MATEUS BONOMI, ARCHIVES REUTERS
The former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro
In addition to wearing an electronic bracelet, Jair Bolsonaro is forced to stay at home evening and weekend, and prohibits using social networks and contacting Embassies and Foreign Authorities.
Toning against a supposed “witch hunt” against his far -right ally, Donald Trump also threatened Brazil with customs surcharys of 50 % from 1is august.
He signed a decree in this sense on Wednesday, justifying this surcharge by “the unusual and extraordinary threat that constitutes Brazil for national security, the economy and foreign policy of the United States”, without the document specifying the date of entry into force of these customs rights.
The Brazilian authorities have also adopted a very firm posture concerning the fight against disinformation, the Supreme Court having hardened in June 2024 the regulation of social networks.
Judge Moraes blocked for 40 days X in Brazil, until the Multimillionaire Elon Musk network complies with orders to delete accounts accused of disseminating info.
For the same reasons, he ordered in February the blocking of the Rumble video platform, popular with American conservatives.
