US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Friday (18) that he ordered the revocation of visas for Justice Alexandre de Moraes, his family members, and “allies on the Court”.
The announcement does not specify which Supreme Federal Court (STF) justices will be affected.
The measure was announced hours after former President Jair Bolsonaro was targeted by a Federal Police (PF) operation, which conducted searches and seizures and ordered the use of an electronic ankle monitor and nighttime curfew from 7pm to 6am.
Rubio wrote that Moraes has been persecuting Bolsonaro and promoting censorship.
“Alexandre de Moraes’ witch hunt policy against Jair Bolsonaro has created a complex of persecution and censorship that violates the rights of Brazilians and also affects Americans. I ordered the immediate revocation of visas for Moraes, his allies on the court, and his family members,” he declared.
Contacted by Agência Brasil, the STF has not yet commented on the visa revocation.
Precautionary Measures
The precautionary measures were ordered in the inquiry in which the former president’s son, federal deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro, is being investigated for his actions with the government of US President Donald Trump to promote retaliatory measures against the Brazilian government and Supreme Court justices and to try to block the criminal proceedings regarding the coup plot.
In March this year, Eduardo requested leave from his parliamentary term and moved to the United States, alleging political persecution. The leave ends next Sunday (20).
Source: Agência Brasil