US imposes visa bans on Brazilian judicial officials

​​​​​​​By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday that the US is restricting visas for Brazilian judicial officials and their immediate family members.

Rubio said in a statement that the Trump administration will hold accountable foreign nationals who are responsible for censoring protected expression in the US.

"Brazilian Supreme Federal Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes's political witch hunt against Jair Bolsonaro created a persecution and censorship complex so sweeping that it not only violates basic rights of Brazilians, but also extends beyond Brazil's shores to target Americans.

"I have therefore ordered visa revocations for Moraes and his allies on the court, as well as their immediate family members effective immediately," he said.

Brazil's Supreme Court issued search warrants Friday and barred former President Jair Bolsonaro from communicating with foreign officials amid allegations that he sought to enlist President Donald Trump's support to interfere in his country’s political affairs.

Trump sent a letter Thursday that supported Bolsonaro and demanded that his trial "must end immediately."