OFAC Delists Brazil Judge, Support Network

The Office of Foreign Assets Control last week removed sanctions from Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes; his wife, Viviane Barci de Moraes; and the Brazil-based Lex Institute, which his wife leads. OFAC sanctioned the judge and Lex earlier this year after accusing him of using his position to "authorize arbitrary pre-trial detentions and suppress freedom of expression."

OFAC didn't provide more information about the delistings. A senior administration official told the Associated Press that the sanctions were lifted because of the recent passage of an amnesty bill by Brazil’s lower house, which U.S. officials viewed "as a signal that lawfare conditions in Brazil are improving."

The removals came days after President Donald Trump and Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva reportedly spoke about the sanctions.