Trump administration renews pressure on International Criminal Court

The US says it will reject any effort by court to assert authority over citizens, days after three ICC judges sue over sanctions.The administration of United States President Donald Trump has once again denounced the International Criminal Court (ICC), pledging that any effort to assert authority over US citizens would be considered a “direct affront” against the country’s sovereignty.The statement, made in a letter to ICC president Tomoko Akane, did not contain any new policy positions, but it represented the latest rhetorical salvo against the international court.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Fatou Bensouda on Israeli threats against her and the ICClist 2 of 3Does Trump have real leverage over Netanyahu — and could he use it?list 3 of 3A world on trial: How lawyers documenting Israeli abuse pay a priceend of list“The ICC has acted in an increasingly lawless and illegitimate manner,” Todd Blanche, the acting US attorney general, wrote in the letter, which was released to the public on Thursday but is dated June 29.The US is not a party to the Rome Statute, the court’s founding document, and the country is therefore not subject to the court’s jurisdiction.But critics have argued that US actions on the soil of signatory countries could result in ICC proceedings.Both Democratic and Republican administrations have rejected any investigations that could ensnare US citizens, although some presidents have offered tacit support for the court.Still, the Trump administration has taken a particularly hard line with the court, launching a raft of sanctions against the court and its top prosecutors. Those measures have extended to any group or organisation that aids in investigations of US citizens and allies.In October, for instance, the Trump administration used its ICC sanctions to levy economic penalties against three Palestinian rights groups accused of participating in the court’s investigations of Israeli crimes.