Government employee tells Moraes: ‘appropriate measures’ will continue

The US Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy, Darren Beattie, talked about September 7th in a post on his X profile. ‘Yesterday marked the 203rd Independence Day of Brazil. It was a reminder of our commitment to support the Brazilian people seeking to preserve the values of freedom and justice,’ wrote Beattie. He continued with a message to Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes: ‘To Minister Alexandre de Moraes and individuals whose abuses of authority have undermined these fundamental freedoms – we will continue to take appropriate measures.’ Within the US State Department, Beattie is responsible for leading efforts to expand and strengthen relations between Americans and citizens of other countries. In late July, the US government applied the Magnitsky Act against Minister Alexandre de Moraes, accused by US authorities of carrying out a ‘witch hunt’, practicing censorship, and violating human rights. In a statement justifying the application of the law, Scott Bessent, US Treasury Secretary, stated that Moraes ‘has taken on the responsibility of being judge and jury in an illegal witch hunt against American and Brazilian citizens and businesses.’ ‘Moraes is responsible for an oppressive campaign of censorship, arbitrary detentions that violate human rights, and politicized processes – including against former President Jair Bolsonaro. Today’s action makes it clear that the Treasury will continue to hold accountable those who threaten US interests and the freedoms of our citizens,’ he added. Marco Rubio, US chief diplomat, also said that Moraes has committed serious violations of human rights and warned: ‘Let this be a warning to those who trample on the fundamental rights of their fellow citizens – judicial robes cannot protect them.’ According to a statement from the US Treasury Department, with the application of the Magnitsky Act, all Moraes’ assets and interests ‘that are in the United States or in the possession or control of US citizens’ are blocked and must be reported to the Office of Foreign Assets Control. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or collectively, 50% or more by Moraes are also blocked.