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US sanctions ICC employees investigating torture, then charges man for torture in Gambia
Double standard, anyone?
Trump OKs sanctions against International Criminal Court employees
President Trump lobbed a broadside attack Thursday against the International Criminal Court by authorizing economic sanctions and travel restrictions against court workers involved in investigating American troops and intelligence officials and those of allied nations, including Israel, for possible war crimes in Afghanistan and elsewhere.
Trump’s executive order marked his administration’s latest attack against international organizations, treaties and agreements that don’t hew to its policies. It would block the financial assets of court employees and bar those employees and their immediate relatives from entering the United States.
Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo denounced The Hague-based tribunal as a “kangaroo court” that has been unsuccessful and inefficient in its mandate to prosecute war crimes. He said that the U.S. would punish the ICC employees for any investigation or prosecution of Americans in Afghanistan and added that they could also be banned for prosecuting Israelis for alleged abuses against Palestinians.
Pompeo’s comments were echoed by Defense Secretary Mark Esper, Atty. Gen. William Barr and national security advisor Robert O’Brien, who spoke at a State Department announcement of the new measures. Barr also announced that the U.S. would investigate possible corruption within the ICC hierarchy that he said raised suspicions that Russia and other adversaries could be interfering in the investigatory process.
https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-06-11/trump-oks-sanctions-against-international-tribunal-employees
President Trump lobbed a broadside attack Thursday against the International Criminal Court by authorizing economic sanctions and travel restrictions against court workers involved in investigating American troops and intelligence officials and those of allied nations, including Israel, for possible war crimes in Afghanistan and elsewhere.
Trump’s executive order marked his administration’s latest attack against international organizations, treaties and agreements that don’t hew to its policies. It would block the financial assets of court employees and bar those employees and their immediate relatives from entering the United States.
Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo denounced The Hague-based tribunal as a “kangaroo court” that has been unsuccessful and inefficient in its mandate to prosecute war crimes. He said that the U.S. would punish the ICC employees for any investigation or prosecution of Americans in Afghanistan and added that they could also be banned for prosecuting Israelis for alleged abuses against Palestinians.
Pompeo’s comments were echoed by Defense Secretary Mark Esper, Atty. Gen. William Barr and national security advisor Robert O’Brien, who spoke at a State Department announcement of the new measures. Barr also announced that the U.S. would investigate possible corruption within the ICC hierarchy that he said raised suspicions that Russia and other adversaries could be interfering in the investigatory process.
https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2020-06-11/trump-oks-sanctions-against-international-tribunal-employees
Gambian man charged in US with torture of coup plotters
A Gambian man living in the United States has been charged with torturing political prisoners in his home country following a failed coup in 2006.
...
Mr Correa has briefly appeared in court in the US on one count of conspiracy to commit torture and six counts of inflicting torture.
"As federal prosecutors, our mission is to seek out injustice and to hold accountable those who perpetuate it, regardless of where it occurs," said Mr Dunn.
He said the Gambian national was charged under a federal law that has only been use twice before, allowing foreigners suspected of committing torture in other countries to be prosecuted in the US.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-53020285
A Gambian man living in the United States has been charged with torturing political prisoners in his home country following a failed coup in 2006.
...
Mr Correa has briefly appeared in court in the US on one count of conspiracy to commit torture and six counts of inflicting torture.
"As federal prosecutors, our mission is to seek out injustice and to hold accountable those who perpetuate it, regardless of where it occurs," said Mr Dunn.
He said the Gambian national was charged under a federal law that has only been use twice before, allowing foreigners suspected of committing torture in other countries to be prosecuted in the US.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-53020285
So it's OK to protect Americans (and, it seems, Israelis) from investigation for war crimes by threatening the court employees and families, but the USA can claim jurisdiction over anywhere in the world when it feels like investigating?
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