The International Criminal Court said that U.S. President Donald Trump’s authorization of economic and travel sanctions against ICC employees amounted to threats and coercion and were “an unacceptable attempt to interfere with rule of law”.
Earlier in the day, Trump had authorized the sanctions against ICC employees involved in an investigation into whether U.S. forces committed war crimes in Afghanistan.
The ICC said it stood by its staff and officials and described U.S. sanctions as being the latest in a series of “unprecedented” attacks on the court.
Statement of the #ICC on recent measures announced by the US ⤵https://t.co/nX6rhxb93P
— Int'l Criminal Court (@IntlCrimCourt) June 11, 2020
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Thursday that Washington would not allow Americans to be threatened by “a kangaroo court,” after President Donald Trump authorized sanctions against an International Criminal Court investigation into whether U.S. forces committed war crimes in Afghanistan.
Pompeo told a news conference sanctions could extend to family members of ICC officials to prevent them from visiting the United States.
“We cannot, we will not stand by as our people are threatened by a kangaroo court,” Pompeo said.
Via Reuters/ICC
