'Trump takes revenge on the judge's wife': sanctions against Alexandre de Moraes' wife reverberate abroad

The United States' decision to sanction Viviane Barci de Moraes , wife of Minister Alexandre de Moraes, marks a new point of tension between Washington and Brasília. The measure, based on the Magnitsky Act, was justified as a response to alleged human rights violations linked to the trial of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. The international press widely covered the case on Monday, the 22nd, highlighting diplomatic risks and questioning the legislation's political use.

The measure , announced by the United States Department of the Treasury, includes freezing the businesswoman's assets in the United States and prohibiting any commercial transactions with U.S. citizens or companies. The official justification is that Viviane was linked to a family business that benefited from the actions attributed to the judge, which the Trump administration classified as human rights violations.

The crisis began months earlier, when the Supreme Federal Court (STF) began the trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro, accused of conspiring to remain in power after his defeat in the 2022 elections to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The trial, led by Alexandre de Moraes , culminated in a historic conviction: 27 years in prison for attempted coup d'état. The decision provoked a strong reaction from the US government, which began accusing the judge of political persecution against Bolsonaro, an ideological ally of President Donald Trump.

'Revenge'

In July, Moraes had already been targeted by economic sanctions from the US, alleging he was "orchestrating a witch hunt" against opponents. The inclusion of his wife in the package of measures represents an expansion of the offensive, supported by the Global Magnitsky Act , which allows punishment not only for the direct perpetrators of abuses, but also for family members and entities that benefit from these actions.

According to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the sanctions aim to "hold Moraes accountable for abuse of authority, censorship, and political persecution." Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the government will continue to "target those who provide material support for the violations attributed to the judge."

The measure received widespread international coverage, with various outlets highlighting the unprecedented and controversial nature of the action. The French newspaper Le Monde reported that "the US administration is exerting increasing pressure on Brazilian judicial authorities," and detailed that the sanctions against Viviane Barci de Moraes and a family business include freezing assets and banning transactions with US citizens. The newspaper also contextualized the decision as part of "an ongoing diplomatic crisis between the two countries."

The Swiss edition of the newspaper 20 Minutes adopted a more incisive tone, stating that "Trump takes revenge on the judge's wife" and that Viviane "loses all business opportunities in the US" because of her husband's court rulings. The French version of the same outlet highlighted that "the United States turns against the wife of the Brazilian judge who convicted Bolsonaro" and that Washington accuses Moraes of "violating human rights and censoring opponents."

'Unprecedented diplomatic escalation'

In Canada, the website TVA Nouvelles reported that "the sanctions escalate the crisis between the two countries," and that Moraes is accused of "orchestrating a witch hunt against Bolsonaro." The publication also highlighted that the inclusion of his wife in the sanctions represents an unprecedented diplomatic escalation between two established democracies.

The international backlash reveals concern about the political use of the Magnitsky Act. Legal experts and analysts warn of the risk of the legislation being used as a tool for ideological pressure, especially when applied to judges and their families in countries with strong democratic institutions.

In Brazil, the official reaction is still cautious, but lawmakers and legal experts have already spoken out against what they consider unacceptable foreign interference. The inclusion of Viviane Barci de Moraes in the sanctions is seen as an attempt to intimidate the Brazilian judiciary and could jeopardize bilateral cooperation in sensitive areas such as security, trade, and human rights.

Why was the wife targeted?

The sanction against Viviane Barci de Moraes is based on the Global Magnitsky Act, a US legal instrument that allows for the punishment of perpetrators of human rights violations and their families. The US Treasury Department claims that Viviane benefited, directly or indirectly, from her husband's actions, particularly through a family company—the Lex Institute of Legal Studies—suspected of serving as a channel of influence or financing.

According to US authorities, the measure aims to prevent any attempt to conceal assets or transfer funds through relatives, a practice considered common in authoritarian regimes. The asset freeze and the ban on transactions with US entities take effect immediately.