Reply #36: Good GAWD, what a smear based on absolute ignorance of the facts!

[IndianaGreen]

The Brazilian family that is holding the abducted child used its political influence to circumvent a court decision.

Brazil court rebuffs bid to block Sean Goldman’s return

By Associated Press
Thursday, June 11, 2009 - Added 6d 14h ago

SAO PAULO - Brazil’s Supreme Court on Wednesday rebuffed a bid by a political party to stop a 9-year-old boy from being taken to the United States to live with his father. But the boy’s return to the U.S. is likely to be delayed by further legal appeals.

In a 10-0 decision, the Supreme Court refused to consider a request by Brazil’s Progressive Party that argued it would be wrong to take Sean Goldman from his stepfather’s custody in Brazil after five years in the South American nation.

The high court ruled that a federal court should decide whether the boy will return to the U.S. or remain with his stepfamily in Brazil.

<snip>

President Barack Obama discussed the custody case with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in Washington, and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton lobbied for the boy’s return to live with father David Goldman of Tinton Falls, N.J.

And last week U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, a New Jersey Republican, introduced a bill that would temporarily remove Brazil from a duty-free trade program. He says Brazil received $2.75 billion in U.S. trade benefits last year.

But David Goldman’s attorney said Wednesday that a federal court in Rio de Janeiro, which previously ruled the boy be returned to the U.S., still must consider another appeal from the boy’s stepfamily.

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/international/americas/view/2009_06_11_Brazil_court_rebuffs_bid_to_block_Sean_Goldman_s_return/