Alexandre de Moraes, who oversees the criminal case against ex-president Bolsonaro, is accused of suppressing freedom of expression
The United States imposed sanctions on Brazilian Supreme Federal Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes on Wednesday, accusing him of authorising arbitrary pre-trial detentions and suppressing freedom of expression.
“Moraes has investigated, prosecuted and suppressed those who have engaged in speech that is protected under the US Constitution, repeatedly subjecting victims to long preventive detentions without bringing charges,” the Treasury Department said in a statement.
Moraes recently ordered Bolsonaro to wear an ankle bracelet and stop using social media over allegations he courted interference from Trump.
US sanctions on Justice Moraes are “arbitrary and unjustifiable”, said Brazil’s attorney general Jorge Messias.
