The case, filed on Wednesday in federal court in Manhattan, was brought by judges Kimberly Prost (Canada), Solomy Balungi Bossa (Uganda), and Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini-Gansou (Benin)
Three International Criminal Court (ICC) judges have filed a lawsuit against former U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration, challenging sanctions imposed on them last year and arguing the measures were illegal.
The case, filed on Wednesday in federal court in Manhattan, was brought by judges Kimberly Prost (Canada), Solomy Balungi Bossa (Uganda), and Reine Adelaide Sophie Alapini-Gansou (Benin).
They argue the sanctions were intended to pressure and punish them for judicial decisions rather than serve any legitimate national security purpose.
According to the lawsuit, the sanctions were imposed in response to ICC actions including the issuance of an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the court’s earlier decision to investigate alleged war crimes involving U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
The judges say the restrictions froze their U.S.-based assets and barred American individuals and institutions from doing business with them, including providing financial services, goods, or digital platforms.
As a result, they claim they have been unable to access banking systems, use common online services, book travel, or maintain insurance coverage.
They further argue that the sanctions go beyond the legal limits of the U.S. International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), stating there was no genuine national emergency or extraordinary threat to justify the measures.
The ICC, based in The Hague and established in 2002, prosecutes genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity in member states or when referred by the UN Security Council.
However, major countries including the United States, China, Russia, and Israel do not recognize its jurisdiction.
The Trump administration had previously imposed sanctions on ICC officials during his first term, including then-chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda, over investigations involving Afghanistan.
The judges argue the sanctions represent an attempt to interfere with judicial independence and influence ongoing and future proceedings before the court.
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