ICC rips latest US sanctions on senior staff: 'Flagrant attack'

The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Wednesday slammed the U.S. over sanctions targeting senior staff, vowing to continue to seek out justice after what they described as a "flagrant attack" on the global tribunal's independence. The sanctions were made against court president Judge Tomoko Akane and the Office of the Prosecutor's senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye, among several others. "These sanctions are a flagrant attack against the independence of an impartial judicial institution which operates pursuant to the mandate conferred by its States Parties from across regions," the ICC wrote in a statement. "As a result of these designations, at present, nine of the eighteen Judges, both of the two Deputy-Prosecutors, the former Prosecutor and one staff member have been sanctioned by the United States," it added. The court said sanctions "undermine the rule of law," adding that when judicial officials "are threatened for applying the law, it is the international legal order itself that is placed at risk." "As previously stated, the Court remains undeterred and stands firmly behind its personnel and behind victims of unimaginable atrocities," the officials continued. "The Court will continue to fully discharge its mandate with independence and impartiality, in full accordance with the Rome Statute and in the interest of victims of international crimes." Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the sanctions on Tuesday, saying the action was carried out as part of "our unwa…