The U.S. House of Representatives has approved a bill targeting the International Criminal Court (ICC) in response to its arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Benny Gantz. The warrants, linked to alleged war crimes during Israel’s military actions in Gaza, have prompted sharp criticism from U.S. lawmakers.
The vote, passing 243 to 140, approved the “Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act.” This legislation imposes sanctions on foreign individuals involved in investigating, arresting, or prosecuting U.S. citizens or nationals of allied countries, including Israel, that are not ICC members. The bill garnered bipartisan support, with 45 Democrats joining 198 Republicans. No Republicans opposed the measure.
The ICC expressed concern, warning the legislation could undermine victims’ access to justice. Judge Tomoko Akane, ICC president, cautioned last month that such actions threaten the court’s operations and its existence.
This House decision aligns with prior measures during Donald Trump’s presidency. In 2020, Trump imposed sanctions on the ICC over investigations into alleged U.S. war crimes in Afghanistan. While President Joe Biden later lifted these sanctions, Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggested new measures could be considered if the ICC pursued actions against Israeli leaders.
The ICC, established to prosecute war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and aggression, has faced resistance from non-member states like the U.S. and Israel, who view its authority as overreaching. Critics argue the sanctions could obstruct accountability for human rights violations, while supporters see them as necessary to protect allies from politically motivated prosecutions.
Former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon Settles Hush Money Case with U.S. Authorities
Vince McMahon, the former WWE chairman, has settled a high-profile hush money case with U.S. authorities, agreeing to pay $1.7 million. The settlement addresses allegations that McMahon made undisclosed payments to silence former employees accusing him of misconduct.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) revealed McMahon made payments of $3 million in 2019 and $7.5 million in 2022 to suppress allegations. The SEC found he violated corporate governance rules by failing to inform WWE’s Board of Directors about these agreements.
In addition to a $400,000 fine, McMahon will reimburse WWE $1.33 million. Although he neither admitted nor denied the findings, McMahon described the investigation as an overreach, citing “minor accounting errors.”
This marks the end of a turbulent chapter in McMahon’s career, which included stepping down from WWE amid allegations and later resigning as Executive Chairman of TKO following a sexual assault lawsuit.