Politics Foreign Affairs Culture Fellows Program

Brazil Invalidates Visa of State Official Darren Beattie

State of the Union: Darren Beattie sought to visit former president Jair Bolsonaro in prison, which the government called political “interference.”
São,Paulo,/,São,Paulo/,Brazil,/,09/02/2008,Luis,Inácio
(Shutterstock)
Loading the Elevenlabs Text to Speech AudioNative Player...

Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Friday revoked the visa of the U.S. State Department official Darren Beattie. Brazil’s Supreme Court on Thursday had blocked Beattie’s request to visit jailed former president Jair Bolsonaro, a rival of Lula.

Lula said the move was reciprocal after the United States last year revoked visas from Brazilian officials linked to Cuba’s overseas doctors program. He added Beattie would remain barred until visas for Brazil’s health minister and his family are restored.

Justice Alexandre de Moraes of Brazil’s Supreme Court ruled that Beattie’s planned prison visit would amount to “undue interference” in Brazil’s politics during an election year. Moraes is the judge that sentenced Bolsonaro to three decades of prison for allegedly attempting to coup the government after losing the 2022 presidential election to Lula.

The move raises tensions between Brasília and Washington, which have already repeatedly found themselves at odds over trade, free speech, and Bolsonaro during the second Trump administration.

×

Donate to The American Conservative Today

This is not a paywall!

Your support helps us continue our mission of providing thoughtful, independent journalism. With your contribution, we can maintain our commitment to principled reporting on the issues that matter most.

Donate Today:

Donate to The American Conservative Today