Brazil top Court Backs Down on News Censorship

By Richard Mann, Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – After widespread condemnation and criticism by his own Chief Federal Prosecutor, Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes has revoked censorship he imposed on two media outlets reporting on a corruption investigation.

Brazil’s Chief Federal Prosecutor Raquel Dodge accused the nation’s highest court of violating the constitution with an order for news organizations to withdraw some online reports that included references to the court’s president, Dias Toffoli.

The court had told the news websites O Antagonista and Crusoe on Monday to remove specific articles containing what the court said were “false statements” or face a fine of R$100,000  (US$25,600) per day.

Raquel Dodge asked for the ruling to be withdrawn, saying that her office had not been consulted and that the case was outside the federal court’s purview.