Washington (CNN) Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday announced sanctions against two International Criminal Court officials -- the Trump administration's most aggressive move yet to try to deter an ICC investigation into possible war crimes by US military and intelligence officials. "Individuals and entities that continue to materially support those individuals risk exposure to sanctions as well," he warned during a press conference at the State Department. "Additionally, the State Department has restricted the issuance of visas for certain individuals involved in the ICC's efforts to investigate US personnel." The move was swiftly condemned by the international tribunal, human rights organizations and the foreign minister of the Netherlands, where the ICC is based. "These coercive acts, directed at an international judicial institution and its civil servants, are unprecedented and constitute serious attacks against the Court, the Rome Statute system of international criminal justice, and the rule of law more generally," the ICC said in a statement.

Source: CNN September 02, 2020 22:41 UTC