De Morais described the sanctions as ‘cowardly and futile threats,’ and affirmed that he would ignore them and not yield. Morais stated, in remarks carried by the Brazilian news portal ‘G1’ on Friday, that the Supreme Court would continue to consider criminal cases related to the coup attempt that took place on January 8, 2023, emphasizing his commitment to his constitutional duties. His statements came after he was placed on the U.S. sanctions list last Wednesday, where the U.S. Treasury accused him of conducting a ‘campaign of censorship, arbitrary arrests, human rights violations, and political persecution against opponents, including former President Jair Bolsonaro.’ It is noted that Jair Bolsonaro, who served as President of Brazil from 2019 to 2023, lost the election to the current President, Lula da Silva. After the inauguration of the latter, Bolsonaro supporters stormed state institutions in a violent attack that included the Congress, the Supreme Court, and the presidential palace. In November 2024, the Brazilian federal police charged Bolsonaro and former officials with attempting to overthrow the democratic system through organizing a coup, and the case is now awaiting a ruling from the Supreme Court, while the former president faces a potential prison sentence.
