U.S. Imposes Sanctions on International Criminal Court President and Senior Prosecutor
The United States has imposed sanctions on International Criminal Court (ICC) President Judge Tomoko Akane and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye. These measures, announced on August 18 by an executive order from President Trump, freeze their U.S. assets and restrict their access to U.S. companies and European entities through secondary sanctions. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the sanctions were enacted because Akane and Seye engaged in efforts to prosecute officials whose governments have not consented to ICC jurisdiction. President Trump had previously issued statements in February 2025, asserting that the ICC had 'without legitimate basis, asserted jurisdiction over… the United States [and Israel].' Rubio characterized the ICC as 'a corrupt and fatally politicized supranational court that has maliciously abused its authority and exceeded its mandate,' emphasizing that the U.S. 'will not tolerate its assault on state sovereignty.' The ICC has rejected these sanctions, arguing that measu... 
