On Jan. 13, House bill to sanction court arresting prohibited persons.
House reported it passed bill HR 23, entitled the Illegitimate court counteraction act.
Imposes sanctions against foreign persons who assist the International criminal court (ICC) in investigating, arresting, detaining, or prosecuting certain individuals.
Would mandate the imposition of sanctions on the ICC for issuing arrest warrants for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and former defense minister Yoav Gallant.
Bill Provisions
Bill to impose sanctions with respect to the ICC engaged in any effort to investigate, arrest, detain, or prosecute any protected person of the US and its allies.
Categorized as protected persons any US individual, US entity, or person in the US.
Unless US is State party to Rome Statute of ICC, formally consents to ICC jurisdiction.
Also, protected person is any foreign person that is a citizen or lawful resident of a US ally that is not a State party to Rome Statute/has not consented to ICC jurisdiction.
If ICC attempts to investigate, arrest, detain/prosecute a protected person, President must impose visa- and property-blocking sanctions against the foreign persons.
Against that engaged in or materially assisted in such actions, as well as against foreign persons owned by, controlled by, or acting on behalf of such foreign persons.
Must apply visa-blocking sanctions to immediate family members of those sanctioned.
Legislative History
On Jan. 3, 2025, bill was introduced in House; on Jan. 9, 2025, bill passed the House.
On Jan. 9, 2025, bill was introduced in Senate; on Jan. 13, 2025, placed on calendar.
Effectiveness
No effective date specified in bill, so would become effective on date of enactment.
