U.S. Lawyer Criticizes Brazilian Supreme Court Decision

Martin De Luca, legal counsel for Trump Media and the Rumble platform, has strongly criticized the decision for preventive detention of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.

On the 22nd, De Luca took to X (formerly Twitter) to characterize Federal Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes' decision as 'malicious conduct' and disrespect toward the Trump administration. He particularly questioned the timing of the measure, which came the day immediately after the United States eased tariffs on Brazil.

Questions Raised About Detention Grounds

The lawyer challenged the use of Bolsonaro's residence being 13km away from the U.S. Embassy as grounds for flight risk, arguing it was "based on geographical location and speculation" and lacked concrete evidence.

In his decision, Justice Moraes cited violations of electronic monitoring regulations and 'high flight risk' as reasons for detention. Key grounds included cases of Bolsonaro associates leaving the country after conviction and the proximity of Bolsonaro's residence at Solar de Brasília to the U.S. Embassy.

Controversy Over Diplomatic Timing

De Luca emphasized that the judicial action came immediately after the U.S. government signaled tariff relief. He claimed the decision "intensified the witch hunt" and constituted an insult to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Donald Trump.

He also pointed out that "Lula and Alckmin (Brazil's Vice President) have been working for months to stabilize relations with the United States" and "they know Brazil is walking on thin ice in its relationship with Trump." He noted that diplomatic achievements were undermined by this decision coming immediately after receiving the first positive signal.

Brazilian Judiciary Independence and International Relations

This incident has drawn attention as a case revealing tensions between Brazil's independent judicial judgment and international diplomatic relations. Bolsonaro has faced multiple legal investigations related to his refusal to accept the 2022 election results since his defeat, with political controversy continuing over incidents such as supporters' storming of Congress.

It is unusual for a Trump associate to publicly take a position on an internal Brazilian judicial decision. This could potentially act as a new variable in future U.S.-Brazil relations.