evaluating<\/a><\/span> new measures against Justice Alexandre de Moraes, whom it sanctioned last year on human rights grounds before subsequently rescinding that decision.<\/p>\nWashington’s renewed focus on the magistrate threatens to widen the rift between Brazil and the US across trade and political spheres, casting a shadow over upcoming elections in Latin America’s largest nation.<\/p>\n
A little over a year ago, De Moraes was subjected to sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Act. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused him at the time of engaging in a “repressive censorship campaign, arbitrary detentions that violate human rights, and politicized prosecutions,” including measures directed at former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.<\/p>\n
Bolsonaro, an ally of Donald Trump, was sentenced last year to 27 years in prison for plotting a coup.<\/p>\n
However, sanctions targeting the judge, his wife, and a company owned by his family were lifted in December following a meeting and phone conversations between Trump and his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.<\/p>\n
According to a source familiar with the matter who requested anonymity, US interest in De Moraes was revived partly due to a case that ignited a debate over press freedom in Brazil.<\/p>\n
The judge authorized police raids against a journalist and two sources as part of an investigation into media coverage concerning a Supreme Court justice and his family.<\/p>\n
De Moraes defended the action, arguing that the information in question had been illegally obtained and disclosed, thereby endangering the safety of the justice’s family.<\/p>\n
The judge gained global prominence several years ago following a public conflict with Elon Musk, which briefly led to the billionaire’s X platform being blocked in Brazil.<\/p>\n
Supporters say he “helped protect Brazilian democracy against a wave of misinformation.”<\/p>\n
However, critics, including the Trump administration, view him as violating free speech rights.<\/p>\n
“He went after the president’s supporters. Not just Elon Musk, but MAGA supporters in Brazil as well. Even if we want to build good relations with Brazil, it is clear that this man is an adversary,” said a person familiar with the US government’s thinking.<\/p>\n
Another person stated that the reimposition of Magnitsky sanctions is “under evaluation,” noting that such sanctions entail the freezing of US-based assets and a prohibition on American companies and individuals conducting business with targeted parties.<\/p>\n
While it remains unclear whether or when a decision will be reached, any such move would intensify an escalating retaliatory spiral between the two most populous countries in the Americas.<\/p>\n
Tensions initially erupted more than a year ago when Trump imposed a 50% tariff on Brazil while demanding that prosecution proceedings against Bolsonaro be dropped.<\/p>\n
That tariff was subsequently invalidated by the US Supreme Court.<\/p>\n
A brief period of de-escalation since then has drawn to a close, with the US applying a 25% import tariff on numerous Brazilian products in July.<\/p>\n
Last month, Brazil denied entry to two Trump envoys over concerns regarding potential interference in its upcoming October elections. Washington rejects those allegations.<\/p>\n
Lula, who is seeking re-election for a fourth presidential term, suggested that the US might act to support his main opponent, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the jailed former leader’s son.<\/p>\n
The 80-year-old president has also engaged in a sharp public exchange of words with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.<\/p>\n
On Sunday, thousands of supporters gathered to welcome Lula at a stadium in Sao Bernardo do Campo, an industrial suburb of Sao Paulo, for the official launch of his election campaign.<\/p>\n
Lula originally achieved prominence in the area during the late 1970s as a union leader heading metalworkers’ strikes.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the venue, Lula said, “I thank the working men and women of this country who believed that someone like themselves could achieve more than someone different from them. As long as I am alive, I will not stop fighting, and I will not allow the right [to prevail].”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Diplomatic tensions between the two countries remain at a peak as the US government considers new sanctions targeting a judge on Brazil’s Supreme Court. According to sources familiar with the matter who spoke to the Financial Times (FT), the Trump administration is evaluating new measures against Justice Alexandre de Moraes, whom it sanctioned last year […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16097,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[176],"tags":[20600,711,319,712,2282,18044,6680,21155,2942,3831,3583,12519,659,20605,3916,149,2360,3807,821],"class_list":["post-16096","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-america","tag-alexandre-de-moraes","tag-brazil","tag-donald-trump","tag-elections","tag-elon-musk","tag-flavio-bolsonaro","tag-free-speech","tag-global-magnitsky-act","tag-jair-bolsonaro","tag-luiz-inacio-lula-da-silva","tag-marco-rubio","tag-press-freedom","tag-sanctions","tag-sao-paulo","tag-scott-bessent","tag-supreme-court","tag-tariffs","tag-trade-policy","tag-us"],"yoast_head":"\n
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