US sanctions ICC president and senior lawyer in 'dismantle' campaign

The Trump administration has escalated its campaign against the International Criminal Court by sanctioning its president, Tomoko Akane, and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the sanctions Tuesday, framing them as part of an effort to "dismantle" the court, which he called a "sham."

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The Trump Administration is sanctioning ICC President Tomoko Akane and Senior Trial Lawyer Abdoulaye Seye in our unwavering mission to protect Americans from this sham of a court.

Rubio stated that Americans will never be subjected to trials in foreign courts, invoking the Declaration of Independence. The sanctions freeze any U.S. assets held by Akane and Seye and prohibit U.S. entities from conducting business with them. This action follows previous sanctions against over a dozen ICC judges and prosecutors, which have led financial institutions to cut off their access to international banking.

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In honor of our Declaration of Independence, Americans will never be transported beyond seas to be tried for pretend offenses.

The ICC has denounced the U.S. actions, warning that threatening judicial actors jeopardizes the international legal order. However, the Trump administration argues the ICC has exceeded its authority by investigating alleged actions by the U.S. and its ally, Israel, neither of which are members of the court. The ICC, based in The Hague, asserts jurisdiction over grave international crimes committed within its 125 member states, regardless of the perpetrators' nationality. The court has previously opened probes into alleged U.S. war crimes in Afghanistan and issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

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When judicial actors are threatened for applying the law, it is the international legal order itself that is placed at risk.