ICC Judges Sue Trump Over Unlawful U.S. Sanctions

Three judges from the International Criminal Court (ICC)—Kimberly Prost, Solomy Balungi Bossa, and Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini-Gansou—filed a lawsuit in a Manhattan federal court on Wednesday against President Donald Trump and senior administration officials. The judges seek the removal of travel bans and asset freezes imposed by the U.S. government last year via executive order.

The plaintiffs argue the sanctions are arbitrary, violate due process, and exceed the legal authority of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. They describe the measures as a financial death penalty that blocks their access to banking, credit cards, health insurance, and online platforms to coerce judicial decisions and undermine judicial independence.

The Trump administration initiated these sanctions in retaliation for ICC investigations into alleged war crimes by U.S. troops in Afghanistan and the issuance of an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The lawsuit names Donald Trump alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, and OFAC Director Bradley Smith.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the sanctions, asserting that the ICC lacks authority over U.S. nationals and their allies and that the court's actions infringe upon national sovereignty. The U.S. Department of Justice is expected to respond to the legal challenge.