According to a tweet posted by his journalist spouse on Tuesday, David Miranda, a Brazilian politician, has pἀssed away after a nine-month battle in intensive care. He had 37 years of age.
Tweeted Greenwald, who raised two adopted sons with Miranda-
“It is with the most profound sadness that I announce the pἀssing away of my husband, @DavidMirandaRio. He would have turned 38 tomorrow. His deἀth, early this morning, came after a 9-month battle in ICU. He dἰed peacefully, surrounded by our children, family, and friends.”
It is with the most profound sadness that I announce the passing away of my husband, @DavidMirandaRio. He would have turned 38 tomorrow.
His death, early this morning, came after a 9-month battle in ICU. He died in full peace, surrounded by our children and family and friends. pic.twitter.com/wtRvGyJyGl
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) May 9, 2023
In 2016, Miranda became the first openly gἀy person elected to Rio de Janeiro City Council. He then went on to serve in the Brazilian Congress beginning in 2019.
After spending six weeks in the intensive care unit with a stomach ailment, CNN Brasil reported that Miranda abandoned his candidacy for reelection in September 2022.
There was a flood of internet memorials after his pἀssing. Miranda was “a young man with an extraordinary trajectory who left too soon,” as Brazil’s president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, tweeted.
Greenwald tweeted-
“David was singular: the strongest, most passionate, most compassionate man I’ve known.”
He wrote-
“He inspired so many with his biography, passion, and force of life.”
Greenwald claims that Miranda’s mother pἀssed away when he was five years old, “leaving him an orphan” in Rio’s impoverished Jacarezinho area.
Greenwald frequently broke new ground by revealing covert US intelligence activities in prominent reports. With the help of former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, Greenwald revealed the existence of a program that is believed to have collected extensive phone and Internet metadata on American citizens.
In 2013, Miranda was returning to Rio de Janeiro from Berlin when he was held and questioned by British security officials at London’s Heathrow Airport for nine hours under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000.
The reporter noted that Miranda’s host in Berlin was the filmmaker Laura Poitras, who had collaborated “extensively” with Greenwald on his exposes concerning the NSA.
Miranda’s airfare to Germany was paid for by the Guardian newspaper, as was discovered. “Miranda is not a Guardian employee but often assists Greenwald in his work,” the publication stated. UK officials took Miranda’s laptop and flash drives.
According to a profile from TIME magazine, Miranda met Greenwald in 2005-
“When he was playing volleyball on Ipanema beach and accidentally knocked over an American tourist’s drink. That tourist was attorney Glenn Greenwald, better known today for his journalism.”
The pair “fell in love and moved in together after just five days.”
Greenwald wrote on Twitter alongside images of their family-
“But by far, David’s biggest dream, what gave him the greatest pride and purpose, was being a father. He was the most dedicated and loving parent.”
He added-
“He taught me how to be a father. And our exceptional boys – with their own difficult start to live – is his greatest legacy.”
