U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio vowed a response following the Bolsonaro coup conviction on Thursday, where Brazil’s Supreme Court sentenced the former president for plotting to overturn the 2022 election.
Brazil’s Supreme Court convicted former President Jair Bolsonaro for orchestrating a coup plot to remain in power after his 2022 election loss. The court sentenced him to 27 years and three months in prison for attempting to stop President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva from taking office.
Rubio Condemns Conviction as Political Persecution
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio characterized the verdict as “political persecutions” led by Justice Alexandre de Moraes.
He stated, “The political persecutions by sanctioned human rights abuser Alexandre de Moraes continue, as he and others on Brazil’s supreme court have unjustly ruled to imprison former President Jair Bolsonaro.“
Rubio described the legal proceedings as a Marco Rubio Brazil witch hunt. “The United States will respond accordingly to this witch hunt,” Rubio declared, indicating a potential US response to Bolsonaro verdict.
Brazil’s Foreign Ministry Denounces US Comments
Brazil’s Foreign Ministry described Rubio’s statements as a threat against its national sovereignty. The ministry said the comment “attacks Brazilian authority and ignores the facts and the compelling evidence in the records.“
Donald Trump Defends Bolsonaro and His Presidency
U.S. President Donald Trump defends Bolsonaro, calling him a “good president” and drawing parallels to his own legal challenges.
Trump said, “Well, I watched that trial…it’s very surprising that could happen very much like they tried to do with me, but they didn’t get away with it at all.“
The U.S. president reiterated his support for the convicted former leader. “But I can always say this: I knew him as president of Brazil. He was a good man,” Trump added.
US Actions Following the Bolsonaro Coup Conviction
The U.S. has previously placed 50% tariffs on most Brazilian goods and sanctioned Justice de Moraes under the Magnitsky Act. Bolsonaro’s son, Congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro, expects more actions, stating, “We are going to have a firm response with actions from the U.S. government against this dictatorship that is being installed in Brazil.“
Eduardo Bolsonaro suggested that additional U.S. sanctions on Brazilian justices are likely. “If these Supreme Court justices keep following Moraes, they also run the risk of facing the same sanction,” he said, noting visa revocations are also expected for de Moraes and his allies.
