US Bans Prosecutor Seeking Information on US War Crimes

International Criminal Court prosecutor Fatou Bensouda is banned from the United States.  Secretary of State Pompeo had threatened last month to revoke the visa of anyone investigating the United States.  Prosecutor Bensouda was seeking information about possible war crimes committed by US soldiers in Afghanistan. 

“Washington’s attempts to intimidate the ICC by canceling the ICC prosecutor’s visa over a possible Afghanistan investigation is the Trump Administration’s latest shameful attack on the rule of law” according to Human Rights Watch’s international justice director.

The Prosecutor’s office said that she will continue complying with her statutory duty and to follow her mandate under the Rome Statute to conduct investigations without “fear or favor.”

The visa revocation will not impact the Prosecutor’s ability to attend meetings at the United Nation.