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The International Criminal Court slams U.S. sanctions as a flagrant attack on its independence

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a statement on Wednesday condemning the latest U.S. sanctions as a "flagrant attack" on the global tribunal's independence. The administration announced that it hit ICC president Tomoko Akane and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye with sanctions that freeze assets and block U.S. entry. These measures were taken because the court has been investigating and seeking to prosecute officials from countries that have not consented to its jurisdiction, such as the United States and Israel. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the ICC as a "corrupt and fatally politicized supranational court" that has maliciously abused its authority. The administration has launched a sweeping campaign to dismantle the threat posed by the ICC to U.S. sovereignty. While the court warned that these sanctions put the international legal order at risk, the administration argued that the court's actions set a dangerous precedent by targeting non-member nations. The sanctions also impact the daily lives of court officials, restricting their access to basic financial services and travel.

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