Senator places hold on bill over custody battle

[December 18, 2009]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- A New Jersey senator plans to hold up a trade bill that would benefit Brazil because of a long-running battle over a 9-year-old boy.

Sen. Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey placed a hold on a bill that would allow Brazil and other countries to export some products duty-free to the United States.

The hold was confirmed by his spokesman Caley Gray.

Brazil's Supreme Court stopped David Goldman from picking up his son Sean on Thursday and taking him home to New Jersey.

The court said Sean must stay in Brazil while it considers the custody case, which has run more than five years. Another court had told Goldman he could pick up his son.

[Associated Press]

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