Two U.S. based nonprofit organizations filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Wednesday over its sanctions against the International Criminal Court. File Pool Photo by Ronen Zvulun/UPI | License Photo
July 15 (UPI) -- Two U.S. based nonprofit organizations filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Wednesday over its sanctions against the International Criminal Court.
Democracy for the Arab World Now and the Taxpayer Alliance Against Genocide are suing the administration, alleging that its sanctions and threat to dismantle the ICC violate the First Amendment rights of Americans. They argue that the sanctions specifically violate the constitutional right of Americans to advocate for the human rights of Palestinians.
"The Trump administration is using the blunt instrument of economic sanctions not only to punish human rights defenders but to police the political expression of millions of Americans," Omar Shakir, executive director of DAWN, said in a statement. "The government is violating the constitutional rights of American citizens in order to shield officials of a foreign government who have committed a genocide."
The groups filed the lawsuit in a Manhattan federal court. It names President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and director of the office of foreign assets control Brad Smith as defendants.
