David Miranda, the Brazilian Politician and Husband of Glenn Greenwald, Has Died at the Age of 37

By Akriti On May 10, 2023

Authorities say, David Miranda, a Brazilian politician, died on Tuesday after a nine-month fight in intensive care, according to a tweet from his husband, journalist Glenn Greenwald. He was 37 years old.

“It is with profound sadness that I announce the death of my husband, @DavidMirandaRio.” He would have turned 38 tomorrow. His death occurred early this morning, following a nine-month battle in the intensive care unit. He died in complete peace, surrounded by our children, family, and friends,” tweeted Greenwald, who raised two adopted kids with Miranda.

Miranda was elected as one of Rio de Janeiro’s first openly LGBT municipal councilors in 2016, and she currently serves in Brazil’s Congress. Miranda dropped his reelection bid in September 2022 after spending six weeks in the intensive care unit due to a stomach ailment.

His passing sparked a flood of online tributes. On Twitter, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva referred to Miranda as “a young man with an extraordinary trajectory who left too soon.”

“David was singular: the strongest, most passionate, most compassionate man I’ve ever known,” Greenwald wrote on Twitter.

“He inspired so many with his biography, passion, and force of life,” he wrote.

Miranda’s mother died when he was five years old, according to Greenwald, “leaving him an orphan” in Rio’s underprivileged neighborhood of Jacarezinho.

Greenwald has been at the vanguard of high-profile stories disclosing secrets in US espionage programs. Greenwald broke the story of the existence of a US National Security Agency program that is alleged to have collected enormous amounts of phone and Internet data with the assistance of former NSA contractor Edward Snowden.

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Miranda was arrested and interrogated for nine hours by British security authorities at London’s Heathrow Airport in 2013 while returning to Rio from Berlin under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

Miranda remained in Berlin with filmmaker Laura Poitras, who had worked “extensively” with Greenwald on his reports on the National Security Agency, the writer noted at the time.

Miranda’s airfare to Germany was paid for by The Guardian newspaper. “Miranda is not a Guardian employee, but she frequently assists Greenwald in his work,” the newspaper stated at the time. Miranda’s laptop and thumb drives were seized by UK officials.

Miranda met Greenwald in 2005 “while playing volleyball on Ipanema beach and accidentally knocked over an American tourist’s drink.” That traveler was attorney Glenn Greenwald, well known today for his journalism.”

They “fell in love and moved in together after just five days.”

“But being a father was by far David’s biggest dream, what gave him the most pride and purpose.” “He was the most dedicated and loving parent,” Greenwald wrote on Twitter, alongside photos of their family.

“He taught me how to be a father.” And our very remarkable boys, who have had their own terrible start in life, are his greatest legacy,” he continued.