U.S. Sanctions Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Over Alleged Human Rights Violations and Censorship
The U.S. sanctioned Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes for alleged human rights violations, politicized prosecutions, and censorship, especially concerning his case against former President Jair Bolsonaro.
Overview
The U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, freezing his U.S. assets and imposing visa restrictions on him and his family.
Justice Moraes oversees a criminal case against former President Jair Bolsonaro, accused of plotting to stay in power. He also ordered Bolsonaro to wear an ankle bracelet.
The sanctions, under the Global Magnitsky Act, cite Moraes's alleged human rights violations, politicized prosecutions, arbitrary detentions, and suppression of free speech.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent criticized Justice Moraes for conducting an "unlawful witch hunt" and engaging in censorship, justifying the U.S. punitive measures.
Moraes also ordered the shutdown of Elon Musk's social media platform, X, in Brazil for non-compliance, an action contributing to the U.S. decision to impose sanctions.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources cover the story neutrally by focusing on factual reporting of the U.S. Treasury Department's sanctions against Brazil's Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. They attribute all potentially evaluative language to official U.S. statements and provide relevant background context, such as the ongoing case against Bolsonaro and previous U.S. actions, without adopting a biased stance.
Sources (7)
Center (4)
FAQ
Justice Alexandre de Moraes is accused of arbitrary detentions that violate human rights, politicized prosecutions, and suppression of free speech, including detaining individuals without charges and censoring journalists and social media users.
Justice de Moraes oversees the criminal case against former President Jair Bolsonaro, who is accused of plotting to overturn his 2022 election loss and stay in power. He has also ordered Bolsonaro to wear an ankle bracelet as part of the case.
Justice de Moraes ordered the shutdown of Elon Musk's social media platform X in Brazil due to non-compliance with his orders. He has also directed U.S. social media companies to block or remove numerous accounts, many of which belong to his critics.
The U.S. imposed sanctions under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, which targets perpetrators of serious human rights abuses and corrupt officials globally.
Alongside asset freezes and visa restrictions on him and his family, the U.S. Treasury Secretary described Justice de Moraes' conduct as an "unlawful witch hunt" and an "oppressive campaign" of censorship, emphasizing his targeting of U.S. and Brazilian citizens and companies.
History
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