US announces new sanctions on top ICC figures

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced sanctions against the president and a senior lawyer of the International Criminal Court (ICC).The move is the Trump administration's latest escalation in its campaign to "dismantle" the court which is empowered by more than 120 member countries to investigate war crimes.Rubio said the US was sanctioning ICC President Tomoko Akane of Japan and ICC Senior Trial Lawyer Abdoulaye Seye of Senegal following an order from President Donald Trump's targeting the court last year.He accused them of directly engaging "in efforts by the ICC to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute officials whose government has not consented to ICC jurisdiction"."[T]he International Criminal Court (ICC) is a corrupt and fatally politicized supranational court that has maliciously abused its authority and exceeded its mandate. We will not tolerate its assault on state sovereignty," Rubio added.The ICC has been approached for comment.Neither President Trump nor the White House has so far commented. The Trump administration has already announced sanctions on at least 11 ICC officials, including nine judges and the chief prosecutor. The sanctions include asset fre...