U.S. Hits Brazilian Judge With Sanctions Amid Bolsonaro Trial Concerns

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In a move signaling strong disapproval of Brazil’s judiciary, the U.S. Treasury Department has sanctioned Supreme Federal Court (STF – Supremo Tribunal Federal) Justice Alexandre de Moraes, accusing him of suppressing free speech and executing politically biased prosecutions in the case against former President Jair Bolsonaro.

Justice de Moraes, who leads the legal proceedings accusing Bolsonaro of trying to remain in power after his 2022 election loss, is alleged to have engaged in censorship, arbitrary detentions, and political persecution. “De Moraes is responsible for an oppressive campaign, including against former President Jair Bolsonaro,” said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. 

The sanctions include a freeze on all assets de Moraes may hold within U.S. jurisdiction.

These sanctions follow visa restrictions placed on Brazilian judicial officials by the U.S. State Department earlier this month. Critics argue the actions taken against Bolsonaro are politically driven and reflect a broader erosion of due process in Brazil.

Bolsonaro remains a popular figure among conservatives and has long claimed that the accusations are a strategic attempt to remove him from Brazil’s political scene. His ties with former U.S. President Donald Trump, who hosted him at Mar-a-Lago in 2020, underscore the international significance of his case.

Adding weight to U.S. disapproval, Trump recently imposed a 50% tariff on Brazilian imports, citing the Bolsonaro trial as justification. The tariff is scheduled to take effect this Friday and is widely seen as a retaliatory measure against judicial overreach.

Brazil’s government and judiciary have yet to publicly comment on the U.S. actions. Nonetheless, the pressure is mounting.

As the trial unfolds under international scrutiny, questions continue to rise over the politicization of Brazil’s courts and the implications for its democracy.