By Laura Gamba
BOGOTA, Colombia (AA) - Political figures in Brazil reacted strongly Wednesday after the US announced sanctions against Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes.
The US Treasury Department cited his alleged suppression of freedom of expression and authorization of arbitrary arrests in the ongoing trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro as reasons for the move.
Gleisi Hoffmann, Brazil's Minister of Institutional Relations, condemned the Trump administration for the decision, calling it "a violent and arrogant act."
"Another chapter in the Bolsonaro family's betrayal of the country," Hoffmann posted on her X account. "No nation can interfere in the judiciary of another. Solidarity with the minister and the Supreme Court. The Lula administration completely condemns this absurdity," she added, referring to Moraes's formal title, Minister of the Supreme Federal Court of Brazil.
Supreme Court Justice Flavio Dino expressed his "personal solidarity" with Moraes, stating "he is simply doing his job, honestly and dedicatedly, in accordance with the Brazilian Constitution."
Dino also confirmed that Moraes's judicial decisions are subject to review by the full Supreme Court or its First Chamber.
Moraes was sanctioned under the Global Magnitsky Act, a US law that allows the United States government to impose economic sanctions and visa restrictions on foreign individuals it deems to be involved in human rights abuses or corruption. The sanctions effectively freeze any potential assets Moraes holds in the US, along with those of any associated companies. It also prohibits American citizens and companies from conducting business with him.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement that "Alexandre de Moraes has taken it upon himself to be judge and jury in an unlawful witch hunt against US and Brazilian citizens and companies."
Bessent further claimed that "De Moraes is responsible for an oppressive campaign of censorship, arbitrary detentions that violate human rights, and politicized prosecutions – including against former President Jair Bolsonaro."
Bolsonaro is accused of orchestrating a plot to remain in power despite his 2022 election defeat to current President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
US President Donald Trump has linked new tariffs on Brazil to what he termed a "witch hunt" against the former Brazilian right-wing leader.
President Lula has accused Bolsonaro of sending his son, Eduardo Bolsonaro, to the US to solicit tariff threats from Trump as a form of political intervention.
Eduardo Bolsonaro, for his part, celebrated the US decision.
"The world is watching Brazil. Today, the US announced sanctions against Alexandre de Moraes under the Magnitsky Act, which is used against human rights violators. It's a historic milestone and a warning: abuses of authority now have global consequences."
The sanctions announcement against Moraes follows US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's statement in June indicating that Washington was considering such action against the judge.