Justice Alexandre de Moraes of Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court is spearheading a criminal probe into former right-wing president Jair Bolsonaro. On Wednesday, the Treasury Department stated that it will formally impose penalties on him.
Following President Trump’s warning of a 50% tax on Brazilian exports, the news of the sanctions has broken. Trump has criticized the Brazilian government for what he calls a “unjust” and politically driven prosecution against Bolsonaro, accusing the former president of plotting an attempted coup. The Treasury Department’s pronouncement of the penalties included allegations that De Moraes had been abusing his position to punish “arbitrary” pre-trial detentions, censor free expression, and single out political opponents.
“Alexandre de Moraes has taken it upon himself to be judge and jury in an unconstitutional witch hunt against U.S. and Brazilian persons and corporations,” said Scott Bessent, Secretary of the Treasury. “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.”
“Today’s action makes clear that Treasury will continue to hold accountable those who threaten U.S. interests and the freedoms of our citizens,” said Bessent.
The penalties have resulted in the freezing of all of De Moraes’s assets and property in the United States or in the custody of any U.S. citizen. This also include any assets in which De Moraes owns a 50% or greater interest.
According to the Treasury Department, any company or bank that is involved in certain deals or conduct that might be seen as breaking the restrictions against De Morae could face sanctions as well.
Executive Order 13818, issued during President Trump’s first term, established a national emergency concerning corruption and human rights abuses on a global scale; this order is the basis for the penalties imposed by the current government against De Moraes. According to the Treasury Department, the 2017 executive order expands upon the 2016 Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, which permits the president and the Office of Foreign Assets Control within the Treasury to sanction foreign officials accountable for human rights abuses.
Eduardo Bolsonaro, the son of Bolsonaro, was allegedly collaborating closely with the White House to encourage the imposition of penalties on De Moraes earlier this month, leading to rumors that the United States may penalize De Moraes.
De Moraes, a justice of Brazil’s highest court, has taken the lead in the investigation into Bolsonaro’s alleged involvement in a plot to stay in power after losing the presidential election to current president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. In his role as official “rapporteur,” De Moraes has guided the case’s most important developments. The investigation followed an 884-page report by Brazil’s state prosecutor, Paulo Gonet.
Bolsonaro is facing charges related to an alleged attempted coup. The charges include inciting a riot in the capital, creating widespread mistrust in the electoral system, and drafting a decree to make the plot seem legitimate. The prosecution also claims that Bolsonaro pressured top military officials to support the plot.
March saw the acceptance of allegations against Bolsonaro by a panel of justices on Brazil’s Supreme Court, which finally led to the trial of the former leader. The five-judge panel decided to accept the charges, which included plots to assassinate a Supreme Court judge and poison Bolsonaro’s successor.