North Miami-Dade News

Today, the Chairwoman of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar (R-FL), accused Brazilian President Lula da Silva and Supreme Federal Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes of censoring opposition voices on social media. This occurred during a hearing on the state of Democracy and Rule of Law in Brazil. She also defended Elon Musk against an unprecedented Brazilian censorship.

The Supreme Federal Court of Brazil, under the direction of Judge De Moraes, has embarked on a prolonged legal siege against X (formerly Twitter) and other social media companies like Rumble in the name of protecting democracy. Elon Musk's commitment to protect freedom of speech, even at the expense of potential profits, serves as an example for all who believe in democracy.

"Brazil not only has a president who is a convicted political criminal, Lula da Silva, but now it has a totalitarian operator as the president of the Supreme Federal Court, Alexandre de Moraes," said Representative Salazar. "Elon Musk, the owner of Twitter, has become the target of the highest court because he is fighting against De Moraes' restriction of the most fundamental rights of the Brazilian people: the right to freedom of expression. The Brazilian people deserve much better."

Supreme Federal Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes has usurped powers from Congress to silence Brazilian opposition that supported former President Jair Bolsonaro during and after the 2022 presidential elections.

In response to legal requirements imposed on social media companies operating in Brazil to restrict speech that displeases the government, Elon Musk ordered his company to fight these restrictions in Brazilian courts. Independent journalist Michael Shellenberger testified that Musk and X grew tired of "illegitimate, unconstitutional and illegal censorship requests."

Brazilian journalist Paulo Figueiredo highlighted that U.S. Congress must continue shedding light on corruption within President Lula's Administration and recommit to protecting opposition voices from arbitrary restrictions.

As a former journalist, Representative Salazar has dedicated her life to protecting the fundamental democratic right to freedom of speech and press freedom. To hear her full comments and line of questioning at the hearing, click here.

Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar represents thousands of Brazilian-Americans in Florida's 27th Congressional District and is an advocate for freedom of speech worldwide.