🇺🇸 MAGA-nitsky?

DIPLOMACY AND DEMOCRACY

Eduardo Bolsonaro finds allies in Washington — and trouble for Brazil

Earlier this year, Eduardo Bolsonaro, son of Brazil’s former president Jair, traded the corridors of Congress in Brasília for the backrooms of right-wing Washington. Many in Brazilian politics laughed him off, but his efforts appear to have started to bear fruit — which could spell trouble for democracy back home.

Now living in the United States in self-imposed exile, the far-right politician has emerged as a key liaison between Jair Bolsonaro’s supporters and influential Republicans. His campaign to portray Brazil’s Supreme Court as tyrannical reached new heights this month when US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a US House hearing that there is a “great possibility” the US will impose sanctions on Justice Alexandre de Moraes — who leads multiple probes that involve the Bolsonaros — under the Global Magnitsky Act.

Inspired by a Russia-focused law, the Magnitsky Act allows the US to sanction foreign figures accused of corruption or human rights violations. No court ruling is required, only a plausible allegation and executive will. If implemented, Moraes could be barred from the US and have his assets frozen in the country.

The issue was raised during the hearing by Representative Cory Mills of Florida, who had met with Eduardo Bolsonaro just a week earlier.

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