The minister, of the (Supreme Federal Court), said on Monday (22) that the judiciary will not accept coercion or make room for impunity in the face of the government against his wife.
“The illegal and unfortunate application of the magnistsky law to my wife not only contrasts with the history of the United States of America, respecting the law and fundamental rights, but also violent international law, sovereignty of Brazil and the independence of the judiciary,” Moraes said in a statement.
“Independence of the judiciary, institutional courage and defense to national sovereignty are part of the republican universe of Brazilian judges, who will not accept coercions or obstructions in the exercise of their constitutional mission sovereignly conferred by the Brazilian people,” he added.
The minister also stated that Brazilian institutions are strong and solid and that there is no “constitutional possibility of impunity, omission or cowardly”.
“As a member of the Federal Supreme Court, I will continue to fulfill my constitutional mission to judge independently and impartially,” he said.
Moraes’s written statement was the first made by the minister since Donald Trump government included his wife, Viviane Barci de Moraes, on the list of Magnitsky Law on Monday morning.
The Supreme also released a statement. The court says that the financial sanction against Viviane is unfair and based on false narratives.
“Unfortunately, the US authorities were convinced of a narrative that does not correspond to the facts: we are facing a trial that respected due process of law and the broad right of defense, with total publicity,” he says in a statement.
According to the Supreme, almost all the Brazilian population recognizes the “historical importance of a judgment and punishment for an attempt to coup.”
“If there was already injustice in the sanction to a judge for his independent performance and within the laws and the constitution, even more unfair is the expansion of measures to a family member of the magistrate,” he adds.
The government included Viviane Barci de Moraes and the institute that belongs to the family of the STF minister on the list of.
A little later, Minister Flávio Dino, important support from Moraes at the Court, published on social networks a demonstration of solidarity to Moraes and his wife.
In the publication, he stated that there was admiration to the United States legal institutions, especially the Supreme Court and said waiting for a response from the country’s judiciary.
“We have a tradition of admiration for the United States legal institutions, especially to its supreme court. I hope these same institutions will know how to illuminate the paths of such an important nation, depending on international law, towards respect for our sovereignty and Brazilian families,” he said.
“I am sorry that centuries of good cultural relations between Brazil and the United States are being achieved so absurd,” he said.
Minister Gilmar Mendes said that the sanction against Viviane is arbitrary and violates the independence of the Brazilian judiciary.
“It is necessary to remember: our country was on the brink of a coup, with invasion and depredation of public buildings, camps asking for military intervention and even murder plans against authorities of the Republic. It was up to Minister Alexander, with courage and firmness, to face this threat and ensure that democracy prevailed,” he said.
The punishment, which had already been applied to the magistrate in late July, was extended after pockets pointed out that Viviane would be an important financial arm of the family.
The magnitsky law provides that it can be included in the list of sanctioned those who collaborate with US condemned conduct.
Through the decision, the US government determines the freezing of any good or asset that the sanctioned person has us and can also ban US financial entities from doing dollar operations with them. The measure would include the use of MasterCard and Visa credit card flags, for example.
In responding why Viviane was included in the Magnitsky Law, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent compared Moraes and Viviane, who crossed the US during the Great Depression committing crimes.
“There is no Clyde without Bonnie,” said Bessent, according to Reuters.
The couple Bonnie and Clyde crossed the southern US in the 1930s assaulting banks, stealing cars and killing police. Their names became a frequent presence in the press. They were shot dead by a detachment of police officers in Louisiana in May 1934.
Bessent also stated that Moraes “is responsible for an oppressive censorship campaign, arbitrary arrests and politicized processes,” including Bolsonaro, and that Monday’s sanction makes it clear that the US government will continue to target people who support the magistrate.
The State Department also issued a note highlighting the sanctions around the minister and saying that those who protect “evil foreign actors such as Moraes threaten US interests and will also be held responsible.”
The Trump government should announce from Brazilian authorities in reaction to Bolsonaro’s trial.
According to a member of the State Department, the Minister of AGU (Attorney General of the Union), Jorge Messias, had canceled; Judges Airton Vieira, Marco Antonio Vargas and Rafael Henrique Window Tamai Rocha, who advised the Supreme Minister in cases involving the former president; José Levi, former Advolado-General of the Union and former Secretary-General of the TSE (Superior Electoral Court) in the management of Moraes; Former TSE minister and former corenger Benedito Gonçalves, rapporteur of the actions that left Bolsonaro ineligible; and Moraes’s chief of staff Cristina Yukiko Kusahara.
According to the report found with a person who has access to discussions, there must be new rounds of visa restrictions, in which the director general of, Andrei Rodrigues, the delegate Fabio Shoor and three other members of the Federal Police should be included.
Airton Vieira and Marco Antônio Vargas were auxiliaries from Moraes in the STF and the TSE (Superior Electoral Court), respectively. The two are cited in the message exchanges of former advisor Eduardo Tagliaferro, who accuses Moraes of pursuing supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro.
The two judges have left the positions in the Moraes Office in the last two years. Sought, the judges did not speak.
