Brazil’s Supreme Court judge has strongly condemned the recent US sanctions imposed against him, calling them part of a “cowardly and treasonous” plot to destabilize the country’s democracy and obstruct justice in the ongoing coup trial against former president Jair Bolsonaro.
The judge accused a group of Brazilian figures abroad of orchestrating foreign pressure to provoke an economic and political crisis in Brazil, aiming to recreate the conditions for another attempted coup. He compared the sanctions and new US tariffs to the events of January 8, 2023, when Bolsonaro supporters stormed key government institutions in Brasília in a failed attempt to overturn the election results.
These actions, he argued, are designed to incite social unrest that could lead to military intervention. Despite the pressure, he vowed that Brazil’s judiciary will not yield and will continue its work to protect the country’s democratic institutions.
The judge’s remarks follow lobbying efforts by individuals close to Bolsonaro, who have sought US support to shield him from accountability. Bolsonaro faces charges of attempting to subvert Brazil’s democratic process and could face up to 43 years in prison if convicted.
The situation has sparked one of the most severe diplomatic rifts between Brazil and the US in recent memory, with widespread opposition among Brazilians to what many view as external interference in the nation’s legal process.