Brazilian judge opens investigation into Elon Musk after billionaire calls for his ouster over censorship

A Brazilian Supreme Court Judge has opened an investigation into Elon Musk after the X owner called for the judge’s ouster. 

Earlier Sunday, Musk wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Judge Alexandre de Moraes had “brazenly and repeatedly betrayed the constitution and people of Brazil” after he ordered that the social media platform block certain accounts.  

“He should resign or be impeached,” Musk said. 

Later Sunday, Musk promised that X, formerly known as Twitter, “will publish everything demanded by @Alexandre and how those requests violate Brazilian law.”

Musk’s attacks against the judge started Saturday evening after Moraes threatened to “cut off access” to the platform, which Musk purchased in 2022. 

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Musk warned that “we will probably lose all revenue in Brazil and have to shut down our office there.” 

“But principles matter more than profit,” he said. 

Moraes, one of 11 members of Brazil’s high court and presiding over the country’s Superior Electoral Tribunal (TSE), has been a divisive figure. 

L-R: Elon Musk and Brazilian Judge Alexandre de Moraes. (Getty Images / Getty Images)

His critics, Musk included, have accused Moraes of cracking down on free speech in Brazil after he ordered accounts of influential figures – many of whom supported former President Jair Bolsonaro – to be blocked. 

The former president was declared ineligible to run for office by the Moraes-led TSE for allegedly spreading disinformation about the country’s electoral system. 

In his inquiry, Moraes said X “shall refrain from disobeying any court order already issued, including performing any profile reactivation that has been blocked by this Supreme Court.” 

If X fails to comply with the order to block certain accounts, the company will be fined the equivalent of $19,740 a day, the judge said. 

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FOX Business reached out to Moraes for a response but did not hear back before publication.