US Refuses to Recognize ICC's Jurisdiction Over American Citizens

The US Department of Justice has rejected any claims that the International Criminal Court (ICC) has jurisdiction over American citizens. It was stated that the US is not a party to the Rome Statute and therefore the court has no jurisdiction over Americans. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, in a letter to ICC President Tomoko Akane, emphasized that the US is not a party to the Rome Statute and therefore the court has no jurisdiction over Americans. According to the statement published on the Department of Justice's website, Blanche stated in his letter, "The US is not a party to the Rome Statute and has never accepted the ICC's authority. Under international law, a treaty cannot bind a state that has not consented to it. Therefore, the ICC has no jurisdiction over US citizens anywhere in the world." The US Department of Justice accused the ICC of 'increasingly acting in an unlawful and illegitimate manner'.