US lifts sanctions on Brazilian Supreme Court judge

WASHINGTON

The US Treasury Department on Friday lifted sanctions on Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, months after designating him under the Global Magnitsky program over his role in prosecuting the country's former President Jair Bolsonaro.

Moraes was removed from the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list in an update published by the Treasury, which also delisted his wife, Viviane Barci de Moraes, and the Sao Paulo-based LEX Instituto de Estudos Juridicos Ltda, previously sanctioned as an affiliated entity.

The reversal comes as President Donald Trump has eased 50% tariffs on key Brazilian exports, rolling back duties he imposed earlier this year in what US officials described as an effort to shield Bolsonaro from prosecution.

The Trump administration had sanctioned Moraes in late July, alleging "serious human rights abuse" in the corruption trial against Bolsonaro, a political ally now serving over 27 years in prison for attempting a coup after losing the 2022 election to Lula.