Florida Representative María Elvira Salazar (R) released a statement putting Alexandre de Moraes, the current justice of the Brazilian Supreme Federal Court, on blast for placing the former president under house arrest without a conviction.
“INJUSTICE! Alexandre de Moraes has once again abused his power by placing former President Bolsonaro under house arrest without a single conviction or due process,” she said. “This is NOT justice. This is persecution.”
Salazar continues her statement by warning that the democratic Brazilian government is leaning on the cusp of falling into a dictatorship.
“Brazil is dangerously close to becoming a dictatorship, where political opponents are silenced, not tried,” Salazar added. “We must raise our voices before it's too late.”
Brazil’s Supreme Court has ruled to place former president Jair Bolsonaro under house arrest for allegedly plotting a coup to keep himself in power during his 2022 presidential defeat.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes was overseeing the Bolsonaro case, and when he decided to place the former President under house arrest due to his violating the precautionary measures courts had imposed on him. The violation was in relation to spreading content online through the 70-year-old’s three lawmaker sons.
Bolsonaro's legal team has stated that they will appeal the ruling, with Bolsonaro releasing a message through them.
"Good afternoon, Copacobana, good afternoon my Brazil, a hug to everyone, this is for our freedom," he said.
Additionally, the Trump administration and the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs released a statement condemning the actions of Moraes and will "hold accountable all those aiding and abetting sanctioned conduct."
The bureau finished its statement and demanded that Bolsonaro be allowed a platform.
