ICC judges sue Trump administration over sanctions

Three judges of the International Criminal Court (ICC) have filed a lawsuit in a federal court in Manhattan, challenging sanctions imposed on them by the Trump administration last year.

The judges, Kimberly Prost of Canada, Solomy Balungi Bossa of Uganda and Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini-Gansou of Benin, argue in the lawsuit that the sanctions amount to “extra-judicial pressure” by targeting their financial and personal interests.

They claim that US President Donald Trump is seeking to punish them for previous judicial decisions made by the ICC, including the issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the court’s decision to open an investigation into alleged war crimes committed by US troops in Afghanistan.

According to the lawsuit, the sanctions have significantly affected their ability to carry out routine activities. US sanctions generally prevent individuals from using financial institutions connected to the United States and can restrict access to various online services.

The judges said the measures have made it difficult to receive payments, manage financial affairs and travel internationally, creating major obstacles to performing their professional responsibilities.