The United States government is considering imposing new sanctions against Alexandre de Moraes, minister of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), in yet another episode of tension in relations between Washington and Brasília. The information was published this Sunday (16) by the British newspaper Financial Times, which heard from people familiar with the discussions within Donald Trump's administration.
US evaluates new sanctions against Alexandre de Moraes, says newspaper
The United States government is considering imposing new sanctions against Alexandre de Moraes, minister of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), in yet another episode of tension in relations between Washington and Brasília. The information...
According to the Financial Times, no decision has yet been made. The possibility of reimposing sanctions against Moraes is being analyzed by the American government and gained new momentum after recent decisions by the magistrate involving an investigation in Maranhão.
- The case involves journalist Luís Pablo and people identified as sources of reports published by him about minister Flávio Dino, also a member of the STF.
- Moraes authorized searches against Raimundo Cutrim, former secretary of the Maranhão government, and Diogo Diniz Lima, former secretary of São Luís City Hall.
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According to the Financial Times, no decision has yet been made. The possibility of reimposing sanctions against Moraes is being analyzed by the American government and gained new momentum after recent decisions by the magistrate involving an investigation in Maranhão.
The case involves journalist Luís Pablo and people identified as sources of reports published by him about minister Flávio Dino, also a member of the STF. Moraes authorized searches against Raimundo Cutrim, former secretary of the Maranhão government, and Diogo Diniz Lima, former secretary of São Luís City Hall.
Case involving journalist caught US attention
Luís Pablo's reports addressed, among other topics, the use of official vehicles of the Court of Justice of Maranhão by Flávio Dino and his family. The investigation is investigating whether information related to the minister's travels had been obtained illegally and put the safety of Dino and his family at risk.
According to the Financial Times, the episode attracted attention in Washington because it involved the debate on press freedom and protecting the confidentiality of journalistic sources. A person interviewed by the newspaper stated that the recent case adds to a history of Moraes' actions that are questioned by the American government.
The decision also provoked criticism from entities linked to journalism in Brazil. Moraes, on the other hand, maintained that the investigation seeks to clarify the possible illegal obtaining of data and not to impede journalistic activity. The process generated disagreements about the limits of the constitutional protection of source confidentiality when there are suspicions of crimes in obtaining the information.
Until the publication of the Reuters report on the case, the STF had not commented on the information that Washington was studying new sanctions.
Moraes was already the target of the Magnitsky Act
It would not be the first time that Alexandre de Moraes faced sanctions from the United States. On July 30, 2025, the US Treasury Department included the minister in the measures provided for by the Global Magnitsky Act. At the time, Washington accused Moraes of human rights violations, arbitrary arrests and restrictions on freedom of expression.
In September of that year, the American government expanded the measures and sanctioned Viviane Barci de Moraes, the minister's wife, and Lex Instituto de Estudos Jurídicas, a company linked to the family.
Magnitsky Act sanctions can block assets and property interests held in the United States or under the control of U.S. persons, and restrict financial and commercial transactions involving names included on the Treasury Department's list.
The restrictions against Moraes were lifted by the United States in December 2025, after months of diplomatic friction between the two countries.
New sanctions are not yet confirmed
The Financial Times report highlights that the possible resumption of punishments is only under discussion. So far, there has been no official announcement from the Treasury Department or the White House regarding a new inclusion of Alexandre de Moraes in the Magnitsky Act.
A new measure against the minister could deepen the tension between Brazil and the United States, which are already facing commercial, diplomatic and political differences. The Financial Times classified the possible offensive against Moraes as another test for the relationship between the two countries.
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