ICC Denounces U.S. Sanctions on 2 Top Officials as Trump Campaign Hits 9 Judges
Updated
Updated · NBC News · Aug 19
ICC Denounces U.S. Sanctions on 2 Top Officials as Trump Campaign Hits 9 Judges
3 articles · Updated · NBC News · Aug 19
Summary
The Hague-based court called the new U.S. sanctions on President Tomoko Akane and senior lawyer Abdoulaye Seye a “flagrant attack” on its independence and said it would keep pursuing atrocity cases.
Tuesday’s State Department move freezes any assets they hold in U.S. jurisdictions or touching the U.S. financial system, part of Washington’s claim that the ICC is overreaching by targeting officials from nonmember states such as Israel and the United States.
The court said the Trump administration has now sanctioned 9 of its 18 judges, both deputy prosecutors, its former chief prosecutor and another prosecution staffer, while Rubio has also threatened travel bans and pressure on the ICC’s 125 member states.
Japan called the measures against Akane “very unfortunate” and reaffirmed support for the ICC, while Human Rights Watch and three other groups are suing in New York to challenge the broader U.S. campaign.
The pressure campaign is already rippling beyond The Hague: Venezuela and Chad have said they plan to quit the court, bringing announced withdrawals over the past year to 5.