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Father's Quest for Son Strains US-Brazil Ties

4-year custody battle becomes political preoccupation

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 13, 2009 2:40 PM CDT
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(Newser) – President Obama meets his Brazilian counterpart tomorrow, and a likely topic of conversation will be an 8-year-old boy, the Washington Post reports. Sean Goldman’s mother whisked him from Newark to Brazil 4 years ago without telling his father—an act both countries agree violated international law and is a matter for the Brazilian courts. But since her death in August, custody of Sean has become a political problem.

Sean's father, David, is on a media crusade, arguing that his ex’s new husband, a well-connected lawyer, is unfairly swaying the courts. He describes himself as "just a guy trying to bring my son home"; the stepfather, who reportedly has 70 lawyers working on Sean's case, criticized David Goldman for exhibiting "the calculated capriciousness of an absent father."

US citizen David Goldman, right, walks with a member of US Congress Christopher Smith as he arrives in Brasilia, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009.
US citizen David Goldman, right, walks with a member of US Congress Christopher Smith as he arrives in Brasilia, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2009.   (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)
President Barack Obama speaks about the economy at Business Roundtable, an association of chief executive officers of leading U.S. companies, at a hotel in Washington, Thursday, March 12, 2009.
President Barack Obama speaks about the economy at Business Roundtable, an association of chief executive officers of leading U.S. companies, at a hotel in Washington, Thursday, March 12, 2009.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
In this photo released by Brazil's Presidency, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva gestures during a ceremony in Vitoria, Brazil, Friday, March 6, 2009.
In this photo released by Brazil's Presidency, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva gestures during a ceremony in Vitoria, Brazil, Friday, March 6, 2009.   (AP Photo/Brazil's Presidency, Ricardo Stuckert)
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It is time to reunite Sean Goldman with his father. The Brazilian government is not complying with international law and risks undermining relations between our two countries. - Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ)

I'm just a guy trying to bring my son home. That's all I've been trying to do since he was taken away 4½ years ago.
- David Goldman

It's not fair, nor humane, this slaughter that we are suffering involving the calculated capriciousness of an absent father. - Paulo e Silva, Sean Goldman's step-grandfather

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 9 comments
riffran
Mar 15, 2009 6:39 AM CDT
the mishandling of Elian Gonzales was a disgrace.....it should have never been the issue it was.....The boy belonged with his father....period.....and the same applies here...poor Father...I wish him luck....I know I would go through hell and perdition to get my child back if that was my situation......
Doctor-Zaius
Mar 14, 2009 9:10 PM CDT
Thank you for your support, Let's hope that justice prevails. I took a lot of shit when I told jackasses that Elian belonged with his father and we had no right to interfere.
Guest
Mar 14, 2009 6:55 AM CDT
Doctorzaius we, Brazilians thought that Elian Gonzales should go to his father's hands in Cuba ( and he is there now thanks to Attorney General Janet Reno) as we also think that Mr Goldman's son must be under his father custody!!!

Battle for boy heats up
MSNBC

Obama says economy top of the list
AFP

House bill asks Brazil to return child
Star-Ledger

 
Barack Obama • parenting • Brazil • kidnapping • parents • abduction • Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva • Sean Goldman • Hague Abduction Convention

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