Why US Used Magnitsky Act to Sanction Wife of Brazilian Judge

The law known as the Global Magnitsky Act authorizes the US president to impose sanctions on non-Americans identified as engaging in human rights violations or corruption. It’s been wielded against, among others, Russian prison authorities, officers in Myanmar’s military, prominent South African business leaders, and Chinese government officials responsible for the Xinjiang region.

On Sept. 22, the administration of President Donald Trump used the law to sanction Viviane Barci de Moraes, the wife of Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes. The judge was targeted under the act in July for his role in the prosecution ...