Treasury Dept issues statement on sanctioning Brazilian justice

Treasury Dept issues statement on sanctioning Brazilian justice

The U.S. Treasury Department has announced sanctions against Alexandre de Moraes, a Brazilian Supreme Court Justice, following a notice posted on their website. The action was taken under the Global Magnitsky Act, which permits the U.S. president to impose economic sanctions on individuals with a record of corruption or human rights abuses [1].

The sanctions come after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned the possibility of such action in June. The Treasury Department's statement did not provide specific details about the reason for the sanctions, but it is understood that de Moraes has been targeted due to his alleged involvement in corruption and human rights issues [2].

The Global Magnitsky Act, enacted in 2016, allows for the freezing of assets and the prohibition of U.S. transactions for targeted individuals. This law has been used to target various international figures accused of similar offenses.

The move by the U.S. is likely to have significant implications for Brazil's political and economic landscape. As de Moraes holds a prominent position in the Brazilian judiciary, his sanctioning could potentially impact the country's legal system and its relations with the U.S.

References:
[1] https://gazette.com/news/us-world/us-imposes-sanctions-on-alexandre-de-moraes-of-brazil-treasury-website-shows/article_12513d05-5495-5cd3-94a0-e51794c0c373.html
[2] https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-imposes-sanctions-alexandre-de-moraes-brazil-treasury-website-shows-2025-07-30/