Brazil prosecutes Glenn Greenwald in “attack on press freedom”

Enlarge / Glenn Greenwald speaks during a hearing at the Lower House's Human Rights Commission in Brasilia, Brazil, on June 25, 2019. (credit: Getty Images | Evaristo Sa)

Brazilian prosecutors today charged journalist Glenn Greenwald with cybercrimes related to the publication of articles based on leaked "cellphone messages that have embarrassed prosecutors and tarnished the image of an anti-corruption task force," The New York Times reported.

Greenwald, a resident of Brazil who was born in the United States, is a co-founding editor of The Intercept. The Intercept called the charges politically motivated, saying that Brazil's prosecutors are trying to criminalize a wide range of journalism. The charges stem from an Intercept series published in June 2019, which the news organization said was "based on a massive archive of previously undisclosed materials-including private chats, audio recordings, videos, photos, court proceedings, and other documentation-provided to us by an anonymous source."

The prosecution of Greenwald is "apparent retaliation for The Intercept's critical reporting on abuses committed by Justice Minister [Si(C)rgio] Moro and several federal prosecutors," the news organization also said in a statement provided to Ars and other media.

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