Groups sue the Trump administration over its targeting of the International Criminal Court

Human Rights Watch and four advocacy groups filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Tuesday to challenge its targeting of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The complaint alleges that sanctions imposed against ICC judges, prosecutors, and U.S. human rights experts undermine the court's ability to prosecute perpetrators of serious crimes. The lawsuit claims the administration's executive order and sanctions are a "blatantly illegal attack on international justice" and should be dismissed.

The legal action is led by Andrew Loewenstein of Foley Hoag LLP, representing Human Rights Watch, the American Friends Service Committee, the Center for Constitutional Rights, and the Open Society Institute. These organizations argue that the penalties against the ICC force them to limit human rights and legal work, potentially violating their constitutional rights.

The White House declined to comment on the lawsuit, stating that the ICC's actions have infringed on U.S. sovereignty and national security. The lawsuit comes as the ICC faces pressure from its 120+ member states. Last year, the U.S. sanctioned Karim Khan, the ICC's chief prosecutor, and 12 other ICC staff members as retaliation for warrants against Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

State Department and White House officials have criticized the ICC, with the Trump administration seeking to weaken the court's influence. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced plans to pressure member states to withdraw from the court, sanction organizations working with it, and ban staff from traveling to the U.S. Several countries, including U.S.-allied Venezuela, announced their withdrawal following Rubio's statements and Khan's removal from his post.