International relations professor Gilberto Maringoni from the Federal University of ABC (UFABC) condemned Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Luiz Fux for his vote during the trial of far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro. Speaking to Radio BdF, Maringoni called Fux’s stance “shameful” and called him “a puppet of the U.S. government.”
The remarks followed a public statement by Bolsonaro ally Paulo Figueiredo, grandson of former military dictator João Figueiredo. According to Figueiredo, Justice Fux would be excluded from any future U.S. sanctions due to his opposition to Bolsonaro’s conviction. He referred to the Magnitsky Act, a law used by Donald Trump’s administration to sanction Justice Alexandre de Moraes, the case’s lead investigator.
During the trial session on July 10, Fux voted against convicting Bolsonaro, diverging from Moraes. The voting score so far is 2–1 in favor of conviction, with Justice Flávio Dino also voting for conviction. Bolsonaro stands accused of orchestrating an attempted coup following his defeat in the 2022 presidential election.
“What Paulo Figueiredo is saying is: Justice Fux is a puppet of the U.S. government,” said Maringoni. “It’s shameful for a Supreme Court justice to be so closely aligned with a foreign power.”
White House threats should not be ignored, says professor
Figueiredo’s interview came shortly after White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt declared that Donald Trump “is not afraid to use economic and military power to protect freedom of speech around the world.” The statement, made on July 9 in response to a question about possible new sanctions against Brazil in case of Bolsonaro being convicted.
Maringoni warned that such threats should be taken seriously. “This is not just bluff. Trump has consistently used brutal tactics in international relations,” he said. The professor recalled the U.S. Navy’s deployment near Venezuela during Trump’s term and warned Brazil may face similar intimidation. “It is quite possible he could send a naval fleet to the South Atlantic to apply pressure. We must be prepared.”
He added that any attempt at foreign influence over the trial must be firmly rejected by Brazil’s institutions. “This kind of interference in a trial of this magnitude must not be tolerated. It’s up to the foreign ministry, the National Congress, and the Executive branch to adopt a firm stance,” he stated.
Sanctions may target Brics, not just Bolsonaro, expert says
While Trump’s allies have linked potential sanctions to Bolsonaro’s trial, Maringoni believes the broader target may be Brazil’s role in the Brics coalition. “He is attacking the fact that Brazil is the only large Brics member in the Western Hemisphere,” he argued.
The Brics group — composed of Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and now expanded to include other members — has been actively developing trade relations outside the U.S. dollar system. “That’s a serious threat to the United States,” Maringoni concluded.
Jutice Fux’s vote
Supreme Court Justice Luiz Fux voted to acquit former president Jair Bolsonaro and his military allies in the trial over their alleged involvement in a coup attempt following Brazil’s 2022 elections. Fux argued that the Supreme Court lacked jurisdiction over the case, claiming that Bolsonaro and several co-defendants, many of whom no longer hold public office, should be tried in lower courts. His position contradicted both the majority of the Court and the assessment of lead justice Alexandre de Moraes, who maintained that the charges involved coordinated attacks on democratic institutions and therefore required federal jurisdiction.
Fux is politically and legally isolated. So far, two justices – Alexandre de Moraes and Flávio Dino – have voted to convict Bolsonaro and other defendants, presenting detailed arguments based on months of evidence. Moraes, for instance, highlighted the active roles played by Bolsonaro’s inner circle, including General Augusto Heleno and former Justice Minister Anderson Torres, in spreading disinformation and orchestrating anti-democratic actions.
The prosecution, led by Brazil’s Attorney General (PGR) Paulo Gonet, emphasized the systemic nature of the plot. “The attempt at insurrection depends on understanding a sequence of events that, seen individually, might seem benign, but together form a coordinated effort to destroy democratic institutions,” he stated.
