Trump administration reportedly considering new sanctions on Brazil's Justice Minister Moraes

The United States government is reportedly considering imposing new sanctions on Alexandre de Moraes, a minister on Brazil's Supreme Court, according to the English newspaper Financial Times. These measures against Moraes have reportedly gained momentum after the minister authorized search and seizure actions against informants of journalist Luís Pablo.

Luís Pablo, a journalist from Maranhão, had published articles concerning Minister Flávio Dino, and his informants were subsequently targeted by searches ordered by Moraes. In recent months, allies of former President Jair Bolsonaro and his son Flávio Bolsonaro have been petitioning U.S. government members to reinstate sanctions against Moraes. Prominent figures advocating for this action include businessman Paulo Figueiredo and former federal deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro, who maintain communication with members of the Trump administration.

The Financial Times reports that the case involving the Maranhão journalist has drawn the U.S. government's attention due to concerns about freedom of the press in Brazil. If confirmed, these new sanctions would create another point of friction in the relationship between the two countries. Moraes and his wife, Viviane Barci, were previously targeted by U.S. sanctions.

Last July, the Trump administration designated Moraes under the Magnitsky Act, citing "gross human rights abuses" as the rapporteur for the investigation into the alleged coup plot surrounding the 2022 elections, which led to Bolsonaro's conviction and imprisonment. The sanctions included travel bans, asset freezes, and blocking of financial transactions. These restrictions were lifted in December, and Moraes expressed gratitude to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva for his efforts in getting them removed.

The diplomatic tension between Brazil and the U.S. has escalated recently. Brazil is a primary target of tariffs imposed by Trump. Additionally, the U.S. government has classified criminal factions PCC and Comando Vermelho as terrorist organizations. Another diplomatic impasse involves the nomination of diplomat Daniel Perez for the U.S. embassy in Brasília, with the U.S. having announced Perez's name before Brazil's formal acceptance, a departure from diplomatic protocol. President Lula has stated he will only consider approving the ambassador after Brazil's October elections, leading the U.S. to revoke the visa of Brazil's ambassador in Washington, Maria Luiza Viotti, as a reciprocal measure.