Senator credits congressional action for ending high-profile custody battle

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) Thursday credited congressional action for resolving a custody dispute between the U.S. father and the Brazilian stepfather of a 9-year-old boy.

The senator, in an interview with Fox News said that his effort to halt a $2.5 billion trade measure favorable to Brazil helped encourage their government to allow New Jerseyan David Goldman to take custody of his son Sean.

"It didn't happen because we were being nice,” Lautenberg said. “It happened because we decided to get tough and put a hold on a bill that would have given Brazil $2.5 billion worth of trade opportunity."

The dispute over Sean Goldman has attracted international headlines in recent weeks. Sean Goldman’s mother divorced David Goldman, moved with her son to Brazil and remarried.

When Goldman’s ex-wife Bruna Ribiero died during childbirth in 2008, Sean’s Brazilian stepfather took custody of the boy despite a U.S. court ruling that awarded custody to David Goldman.

"These situations should never happen,” said Lautenberg.

Lautenberg was not the only lawmaker to get involved in the dispute. Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, has been in Brazil with Goldman since the House recessed on Dec. 18.

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