Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche sent a letter on July 2, 2026, to International Criminal Court (ICC) President Tomoko Akane, stating that the United States rejects any claims of jurisdiction by the ICC over U.S. citizens. Blanche emphasized that the Justice Department would not cooperate with ICC investigations involving Americans. He accused the ICC of operating in a manner that raises doubts about its impartiality and legitimacy, referencing the 2002 American Servicemembers’ Protection Act, which prohibits U.S. cooperation with the court. The letter also reiterated President Donald Trump’s stance against the ICC, highlighting an executive order that imposed sanctions on ICC officials. Blanche stated that the U.S. opposes any ICC actions against the U.S., Israel, or other allies that have not consented to ICC jurisdiction. The ICC prosecutes individuals for serious crimes such as genocide and war crimes, but the U.S. has never joined the court, arguing it lacks jurisdiction over Americans without U.S. consent. The relationship between the U.S. and the ICC has varied across different administrations, with cooperation seen during the Obama administration and a deterioration during Trump's first term due to ICC investigations into alleged U.S. war crimes.
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U.S. Acting Attorney General Rejects ICC Jurisdiction Over U.S. Citizens
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has formally rejected the International Criminal Court's claims of jurisdiction over U.S. citizens in a letter sent on July 2, 2026. He stated that the Justice Department will not cooperate with ICC investigations involving Americans and accused the court of lacking legitimacy. The U.S. has historically maintained that it does not recognize the ICC's authority over its citizens.
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Blanche pens letter to ICC rejecting court’s claim of jurisdiction over US citizens
U.S. Acting Attorney General Rejects ICC Jurisdiction Over U.S. Citizens