Three judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Kimberly Prost, Solomy Balungi Bossa, and Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini-Gansou, filed a lawsuit in a New York court on 24/6. They accuse the US government of imposing sanctions to exert "unlawful pressure" on them. The lawsuit targets former President Donald Trump and other US officials, seeking to challenge the legality of these measures.
The Trump administration previously sanctioned at least 11 ICC officials, including its chief prosecutor. These measures included a ban on entry to the US and freezing of assets. The sanctions were a direct response to the ICC's investigation into Israel, a close US ally. In 2024, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on charges of war crimes.
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From left: judges Kimberly Prost, Solomy Balungi Bossa, and Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini-Gansou. Photo: ICC |
From left: judges Kimberly Prost, Solomy Balungi Bossa, and Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini-Gansou. Photo: ICC
The judges argue that the sanctions stem from their judicial decisions and aim to force them to "prioritize personal interests over judging cases based on law and truth." They contend that such actions undermine the independence of the international judiciary.
Describing the sanctions as a "financial death sentence," the lawsuit highlights the severe impact on the judges' daily lives. They report being unable to use credit cards, access banking services, or utilize online platforms such as Amazon and Google. The judges stated in their filing that "imposing such harsh sanctions on international judges is unprecedented" and have demanded the US government lift them.
Beyond former President Trump, the lawsuit names other US officials involved in the sanctions. These include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, and Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control Bradley Smith.
US officials have not yet commented on the lawsuit.
The ICC, established in 2002 and headquartered in the Netherlands, is a permanent court dedicated to prosecuting individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. Notably, neither Israel nor the US are parties to the Rome Statute, the treaty establishing the ICC.
By Ngoc Anh (AFP, Reuters)
