US Department of Justice Formally Rejects ICC Jurisdiction

The United States Department of Justice formally notified the International Criminal Court (ICC) that the U.S. will not cooperate with any investigations, inquiries, or proceedings involving American citizens. In a letter dated June 29 and released publicly on July 2, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche informed ICC President Tomoko Akane that Washington will ignore all summonses and oppose the extradition of U.S. persons to the tribunal.

Blanche characterized the ICC as acting in an "increasingly lawless and illegitimate manner," citing internal misconduct and selective enforcement. He specifically noted the suspension of Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan over sexual misconduct allegations. The administration argues that because the U.S. is not a party to the Rome Statute, the court has no authority over American officials or servicemembers, citing the American Servicemembers' Protection Act of 2002.

This diplomatic break follows a February 2025 executive order by President Donald Trump, which imposed asset freezes and travel bans on ICC officials to protect U.S. personnel and allies, including Israel. The tensions escalated after the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant in November 2024. Recently, three ICC judges filed a lawsuit in a Manhattan federal court challenging the U.S. sanctions. While the Justice Department maintains a blanket refusal to cooperate, legal scholars suggest this may conflict with U.S. laws allowing cooperation regarding Russian war crimes in Ukraine.