Trump expands sanctions, targets wife of Brazil’s top court justice - Valor International

The United States expanded its sanctions on Brazilian authorities on Monday (22), adding Viviane Barci, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, to the list of individuals penalized under the Global Magnitsky Act. The move was announced during President Lula’s trip to New York and just over a week after Brazil’s Supreme Court convicted former President Jair Bolsonaro for attempting to orchestrate a coup.

The new sanctions may lead Mr. Lula’s team to alter the speech he is set to deliver on Tuesday when he opens the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Targets of the Trump administration’s latest sanctions also include aides to Justice Moraes and Brazil’s Attorney General Jorge Messias, whose U.S. visa was revoked. Others sanctioned include former Attorney General José Levi, Superior Court of Justice Justice Benedito Gonçalves, and current and former members of Mr. Moraes’s staff at both the Supreme Electoral Court and the Supreme Federal Court. These include judges Airton Vieira, Marco Antonio Martin Vargas, and Rafael Henrique Janela Tamai Rocha. TV Globo’s Jornal Nacional reported that Mr. Moraes’s chief of staff, Cristina Yukiko Kusahara, was also named.

Political turmoil and U.S. sanctions weigh on Brazilian markets

Those sanctioned under the Magnitsky Act are prohibited from traveling to the United States and from conducting financial transactions with U.S. entities. In addition to Viviane Barci, the Lex Instituto de Estudos Jurídicos—a legal institute linked to Mr. Moraes’s family in which she is a partner—was also sanctioned. Mr. Moraes himself was sanctioned under the same legislation in July.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent justified the sanctions against Mr. Moraes’s wife by claiming that he conducts proceedings in a “political” manner.

The sanctions have increased the likelihood that President Lula will address the issue during his speech at the UN. A response to U.S. actions had already been under consideration within the Brazilian government. Behind the scenes at the presidential palace, Mr. Lula’s advisors had anticipated that new sanctions might be announced in the run-up to the General Assembly, prompting a potential shift in tone to address what they view as interference by Donald Trump in Brazil’s internal affairs.

One faction in the government argues that Mr. Lula should address the issue directly at the UN, claiming that international opposition to Washington’s actions has already “crystallized.” They argue it would make little sense to ignore the matter in front of world leaders.

In an official statement, Brazil’s Foreign Ministry (Itamaraty) called the sanctions against Ms. Barci and the Lex Instituto “a new attempt at undue interference in Brazil’s internal affairs.” The ministry added that the measure “will not succeed in its aim of benefiting those who led the failed coup attempt,” referring to Mr. Bolsonaro and noting that some of its leaders have already been convicted by the Supreme Court.

In its own statement, the Supreme Court said, “If sanctioning a judge for his independent actions within the law and the Constitution was already unjust, the expansion of such measures to the judge’s family member is even more so,” referring to Ms. Barci.

Justice Moraes said in a separate note that the sanction “not only contrasts with the history of the United States, known for its respect for law and fundamental rights, but also violates international law, Brazil’s sovereignty, and the independence of the judiciary.” He added, “As a member of the Supreme Court, I will continue to fulfill my constitutional duty to judge with independence and impartiality.”

Justices Gilmar Mendes and Flávio Dino also condemned the move. On X, Mr. Mendes wrote that “punishing a judge and his family for fulfilling his constitutional duty is a direct attack on republican institutions.” On Instagram, Mr. Dino said it was “absurd that centuries of strong cultural relations between Brazil and the United States are being damaged this way.”

Attorney General Jorge Messias said in a statement that the sanctions against Brazilian officials and their families, including the revocation of his visa, escalate “an unreasonable series of unilateral actions” by the U.S. government. “I reaffirm my full commitment to the constitutional independence of our justice system and accept without fear the measure directed at me. I will continue to carry out my duties vigorously,” he said.

This article was translated from Valor Econômico using an artificial intelligence tool under the supervision of the Valor International editorial team to ensure accuracy, clarity, and adherence to our editorial standards. Read our Editorial Principles.