Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

Agence France-Presse

<div style="text-align:left"><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17823499916151782349987812.png" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">U.S. President Donald Trump listens to members of his Cabinet speak during a meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House on May 27, 2026 in Washington, DC. Win McNamee/Getty Images/AFP/File<br id="isPasted"/> </span></span></span></div><p>Three International Criminal Court <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/2/7/trump-sanctions-icc-for-illegitimate-israel-us-probes-0925">judges sanctioned by the United States </a>filed a lawsuit Wednesday against President Donald Trump and other senior US officials, arguing the measures against them are unlawful.</p><p>In a New York court filing, judges Kimberly Prost of Canada, Solomy Balungi Bossa of Uganda and Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini-Gansou of Benin alleged the sanctions aimed to &quot;exert extra-judicial pressure.&quot;</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/6/5/us-slaps-sanctions-on-four-icc-judges-over-israel-us-cases-0649">ICC judge in Duterte case among those sanctioned by Trump admin over Israel, US cases </a></div><p>The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on at least 11 ICC officials, including the chief prosecutor, which consist of travel bans and asset freezes.</p><p>Many of the measures have been direct reprisals for investigations into key US ally Israel by the ICC, which in 2024 issued an <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/2/1/why-the-icc-arrest-warrant-will-not-be-enforced-on-netanyahu-as-he-visits-trump-2028">arrest warrant for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged war crimes.</a></p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2025/3/11/explainer-how-does-the-international-criminal-court-work-1948">EXPLAINER: How does the International Criminal Court work? </a></div><p>Wednesday&#x27;s lawsuit said the sanctions imposed on Prost, Bossa and Alapini-Gansou were aimed at &quot;punishing them for prior judicial decisions and coercing them into prioritizing their private interests over deciding cases on the basis of the law and facts.&quot;</p><p>It added that the measures were &quot;tantamount to the financial death penalty,&quot; as the judges are unable to use credit cards, access banking services and use online platforms like Amazon and Google.</p><p>&quot;The imposition of such draconian sanctions on international judges is unprecedented,&quot; said the 66-page filing, which demands the sanctions be lifted.</p><p>Alongside Trump, the lawsuit names Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, and Bradley Smith, director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control.</p><p>The United States, Israel and Russia are among the countries that reject the ICC, which is backed by nearly all Western democracies.</p><p>The ICC was set up in 2002 as a court of last resort when countries do not have adequate legal systems to ensure accountability.</p><p>During Trump&#x27;s first term, the United States also took action against the top ICC prosecutor in a successful attempt to block an investigation into alleged abuses during the US-led war in Afghanistan.</p><p>Former president Joe Biden&#x27;s administration lifted the sanctions and sought limited cooperation with the court, especially over Ukraine.</p><p><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/world/2026/6/9/icc-chief-prosecutor-karim-khan-suspended-amid-sex-abuse-claims-0827">ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan suspended amid sex abuse claims </a><br/><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/24/icc-trial-chamber-wants-rodrigo-duterte-to-appear-in-sept-7-status-conference-1202">ICC judge expects Duterte to attend Sept. 7 status conference </a><br/><br/>RELATED VIDEOS: </p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HtCtkd1N7so?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/M8Oh5fVBsLM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Three International Criminal Court judges sanctioned by the United States filed a lawsuit Wednesday against President Donald Trump and other senior US officials, arguing the measures against them are unlawful. </p>

Three International Criminal Court judges sanctioned by the United States filed a lawsuit Wednesday against President Donald Trump and other senior US officials, arguing the measures against them are unlawful.

ICC judges sue Trump over 'draconian' sanctions

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ICC judges sue Trump over 'draconian' sanctions

Agence France-Presse

Published June 25, 2026 09:17 AM PHT

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