SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
To donate by check, phone, or other method, see our More Ways to Give page.
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
Documents leaked to The Intercept add more weight to suspicions former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's imprisonment was a politically motivated effort to prevent him from returning to power. (Photo: Victor Moriyama/Getty Images)
Sen. Bernie Sanders on Tuesday called on Brazilian authorities to immediately release former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from prison and drop all charges after an enormous trove of leaked documents confirmed suspicions that the case against Lula was a politically motivated effort to prevent him from winning the 2018 election.
"It is clearer than ever that Lula da Silva was imprisoned in a politicized prosecution that denied him a fair trial and due process."
--Sen. Bernie Sanders
"Today, it is clearer than ever that Lula da Silva was imprisoned in a politicized prosecution that denied him a fair trial and due process," Sanders told The Intercept, which reported on the explosive documents on Sunday after obtaining them from an anonymous source.
"During his presidency, Lula oversaw huge reductions in poverty and remains Brazil's most popular politician," added Sanders, a 2020 presidential candidate. "I stand with political and social leaders across the globe who are calling on Brazil's judiciary to release Lula and annul his conviction."
\u201cDuring his presidency, Lula da Silva oversaw huge reductions in poverty and remains Brazil\u2019s most popular politician. I stand with political and social leaders across the globe who are calling on Brazil\u2019s judiciary to release Lula and annul his conviction.\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1560348015
Sanders's comments came just two days after The Intercept published several stories on the massive trove of documents, which included conversations showing that Judge Sergio Moro--who is now serving as justice minister under Brazil's far-right President Jair Bolsonaro--worked with prosecutors to craft the corruption case against Lula that landed him in prison in 2018.
"Overall," The Intercept reported Sunday, "the documents depict a task force of prosecutors seemingly intent on exploiting its legal powers for blatantly political ends, led by its goal of preventing a return to power of the Workers' Party generally, and Lula specifically."
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), the first U.S. lawmaker to speak out in response to the leaked documents, told The Intercept in a statement earlier Tuesday that the trove of documents "confirms what we knew all along--that Moro was a bad actor and part of a larger conspiracy to send Lula to jail."
Khanna said the Trump administration--which has a friendly relationship with Bolsonaro--should back a full investigation into the case that imprisoned Lula and paved the way for Bolsonaro's rise to power.
"While [it's] not for America to make a factual judgement on Lula's innocence, this reporting shows Moro was not impartial and coordinated with the prosecutors," added Khanna. "This violates all judicial norms and ethics. I hope the Trump administration supports a full investigation into this matter given Lula is still in jail and Moro is Bolsonaro's justice minister."
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Sen. Bernie Sanders on Tuesday called on Brazilian authorities to immediately release former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from prison and drop all charges after an enormous trove of leaked documents confirmed suspicions that the case against Lula was a politically motivated effort to prevent him from winning the 2018 election.
"It is clearer than ever that Lula da Silva was imprisoned in a politicized prosecution that denied him a fair trial and due process."
--Sen. Bernie Sanders
"Today, it is clearer than ever that Lula da Silva was imprisoned in a politicized prosecution that denied him a fair trial and due process," Sanders told The Intercept, which reported on the explosive documents on Sunday after obtaining them from an anonymous source.
"During his presidency, Lula oversaw huge reductions in poverty and remains Brazil's most popular politician," added Sanders, a 2020 presidential candidate. "I stand with political and social leaders across the globe who are calling on Brazil's judiciary to release Lula and annul his conviction."
\u201cDuring his presidency, Lula da Silva oversaw huge reductions in poverty and remains Brazil\u2019s most popular politician. I stand with political and social leaders across the globe who are calling on Brazil\u2019s judiciary to release Lula and annul his conviction.\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1560348015
Sanders's comments came just two days after The Intercept published several stories on the massive trove of documents, which included conversations showing that Judge Sergio Moro--who is now serving as justice minister under Brazil's far-right President Jair Bolsonaro--worked with prosecutors to craft the corruption case against Lula that landed him in prison in 2018.
"Overall," The Intercept reported Sunday, "the documents depict a task force of prosecutors seemingly intent on exploiting its legal powers for blatantly political ends, led by its goal of preventing a return to power of the Workers' Party generally, and Lula specifically."
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), the first U.S. lawmaker to speak out in response to the leaked documents, told The Intercept in a statement earlier Tuesday that the trove of documents "confirms what we knew all along--that Moro was a bad actor and part of a larger conspiracy to send Lula to jail."
Khanna said the Trump administration--which has a friendly relationship with Bolsonaro--should back a full investigation into the case that imprisoned Lula and paved the way for Bolsonaro's rise to power.
"While [it's] not for America to make a factual judgement on Lula's innocence, this reporting shows Moro was not impartial and coordinated with the prosecutors," added Khanna. "This violates all judicial norms and ethics. I hope the Trump administration supports a full investigation into this matter given Lula is still in jail and Moro is Bolsonaro's justice minister."
Sen. Bernie Sanders on Tuesday called on Brazilian authorities to immediately release former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from prison and drop all charges after an enormous trove of leaked documents confirmed suspicions that the case against Lula was a politically motivated effort to prevent him from winning the 2018 election.
"It is clearer than ever that Lula da Silva was imprisoned in a politicized prosecution that denied him a fair trial and due process."
--Sen. Bernie Sanders
"Today, it is clearer than ever that Lula da Silva was imprisoned in a politicized prosecution that denied him a fair trial and due process," Sanders told The Intercept, which reported on the explosive documents on Sunday after obtaining them from an anonymous source.
"During his presidency, Lula oversaw huge reductions in poverty and remains Brazil's most popular politician," added Sanders, a 2020 presidential candidate. "I stand with political and social leaders across the globe who are calling on Brazil's judiciary to release Lula and annul his conviction."
\u201cDuring his presidency, Lula da Silva oversaw huge reductions in poverty and remains Brazil\u2019s most popular politician. I stand with political and social leaders across the globe who are calling on Brazil\u2019s judiciary to release Lula and annul his conviction.\u201d— Bernie Sanders (@Bernie Sanders) 1560348015
Sanders's comments came just two days after The Intercept published several stories on the massive trove of documents, which included conversations showing that Judge Sergio Moro--who is now serving as justice minister under Brazil's far-right President Jair Bolsonaro--worked with prosecutors to craft the corruption case against Lula that landed him in prison in 2018.
"Overall," The Intercept reported Sunday, "the documents depict a task force of prosecutors seemingly intent on exploiting its legal powers for blatantly political ends, led by its goal of preventing a return to power of the Workers' Party generally, and Lula specifically."
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), the first U.S. lawmaker to speak out in response to the leaked documents, told The Intercept in a statement earlier Tuesday that the trove of documents "confirms what we knew all along--that Moro was a bad actor and part of a larger conspiracy to send Lula to jail."
Khanna said the Trump administration--which has a friendly relationship with Bolsonaro--should back a full investigation into the case that imprisoned Lula and paved the way for Bolsonaro's rise to power.
"While [it's] not for America to make a factual judgement on Lula's innocence, this reporting shows Moro was not impartial and coordinated with the prosecutors," added Khanna. "This violates all judicial norms and ethics. I hope the Trump administration supports a full investigation into this matter given Lula is still in jail and Moro is Bolsonaro's justice minister."