U.S. Treasury Sanctions Wife of Justice Zimorais
"Material Support for Zimorais in Human Rights Violations"
Brazil: "Attack on Sovereignty, Interference in Internal Affairs, Act of Aggression"
The administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump has added the wife of a Brazilian Supreme Court justice, with whom it has been at political odds, to its sanctions list. On the 22nd (local time), Yonhap News reported, "The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has sanctioned Viviane Barci Zimorais, the wife of Justice Aleksandri Zimorais, who presided over the trial of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on charges including plotting a coup."
Viviane has been running the "Lex Research Institute," which she founded in 2000. OFAC pointed out that this institute functions as a kind of holding company, jointly owning family assets such as residences. The U.S. Global Magnitsky Act grants the administration the authority to sanction individuals involved in serious human rights violations worldwide, and the Trump administration has applied this law to sanction both Justice Zimorais and his wife.
Treasury Secretary Scott Besant stated, "Justice Zimorais is responsible for a campaign of repression, including censorship, arbitrary detention, and political prosecution against former President Jair Bolsonaro and others," adding, "We will continue to target individuals who materially support Zimorais in his human rights violations."
President Trump has repeatedly expressed strong dissatisfaction with the Brazilian Federal Supreme Court's judicial actions against former President Bolsonaro, with whom he has close ties. Citing this as a reason, he imposed an ultra-high tariff of 50% on imports from Brazil. This latest measure, following the designation of Justice Zimorais as a sanctions target in July, extends sanctions to his family and family-run institutions, further intensifying pressure on Brazil.
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, sentenced to a heavy prison term on charges including plotting a coup. Photo by AP Yonhap News
Meanwhile, on September 11, the Brazilian Supreme Court sentenced former President Bolsonaro to 27 years and 3 months in prison on charges including plotting a coup, organizing an armed criminal group, causing serious injury, and damaging cultural property. It was reported that four out of five justices found the defendant guilty.
Regarding the verdict, President Trump reportedly described it as "shocking and very unhappy." Secretary of State Marco Rubio commented on social media, "The Brazilian Supreme Court has ruled unjustly," and warned, "We will take measures equivalent to a witch hunt."
As a result of these sanctions, tensions between the United States and Brazil are expected to escalate further. The Brazilian government immediately issued a statement, declaring, "This measure is an attack on Brazil's sovereignty and a new attempt at unjust interference in our internal affairs," and asserted, "We will not yield to acts of aggression."
The Brazilian Federal Supreme Court also stated, "It is already unjust to sanction a justice, and expanding such measures to family members is even less justifiable," adding, "We will closely review and respond accordingly." Justice Zimorais, in an opinion published on the Supreme Court's website, emphasized, "The illegal application of the Global Magnitsky Act to my wife not only contradicts the historical tradition of the United States in respecting law and fundamental rights, but also infringes upon international law, Brazil's sovereignty, and the independence of the Brazilian judiciary. I will continue to fulfill my constitutional mission."
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