House Speaker Wants Senator Schumer To Support Sanctions For International Court of Justice

"In a bipartisan vote, the House passed H.R.8282, The Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act, to sanction employees of the UN-affiliated International Court of Justice. President Biden condemned the ICC, and you yourself called the ICC’s decision “reprehensible” and promised to negotiate on a sanctions package,” Johnson wrote. “Unfortunately, after five months, neither your statements nor those from the Biden-Harris White House have materialized into action.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) called on Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to up a vote for a bill to sanction the International Criminal Court for its arrest warrants issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials. Johnson asked for a vote “as soon as the Senate returns.”

The bill has been delayed in the Senate despite passing the House of Representatives in a bipartisan vote last June. Johnson’s memo, dated October 23, noted that President Joe Biden and Schumer have both condemned the ICC in the past for pursuing charges. The letter also said Schumer has expressed support for negotiating a sanctions package. “In a bipartisan vote, the House passed H.R.8282, The Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act, to sanction employees of the ICC. President Biden condemned the ICC, and you yourself called the ICC’s decision “reprehensible” and promised to negotiate on a sanctions package,” Johnson wrote. “Unfortunately, after five months, neither your statements nor those from the Biden-Harris White House have materialized into action.”

“Now, even after [Hamas leader Yahya] Sinwar’s death, [ICC lead prosecutor] Karim Khan and the ICC are still pursuing baseless warrants against Israeli officials, and effectively punishing Israel for Hamas’ barbarism. The ICC will continue to do so without strong, unified intervention by the United States,” he continued. 

“The ICC tried to justify its illegitimate action by also issuing a warrant for Hamas’ leader, Yahya Sinwar. Republicans and Democrats in Washington recognized the ICC’s despicable false equivalency and called out its warrant as an attack on the very idea of state sovereignty."

Since April, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) has been deadlocked over the bill. result of the bill. Republicans on the committee are refusing to move forwards with any nominations or other committee matters until the committee votes on the ICC bill. So far, 40 nominations are delayed. The Biden  White House opposes sanctions on the ICC. SFRC Chairman Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) supports some sanctions but opposes the House bill. Cardin and Schumer and others are seeking a way forward for the Senate. 

Cardin wants the White House to support a compromise, even while the Biden administration’s position has not changed. Cardin has said there is bipartisan support for a compromise, but added that without White House support it is dead on arrival. “Failing to advance a sanctions package on the ICC would distance the U.S. from Israel at a time when they need our ironclad support, give de facto approval to the ICC’s malicious treatment of Israel, and allow the ICC to threaten the sovereignty of democratic nations unabated,” Johnson warned Schumer. 

A spokesperson for Schumer said that bipartisan negotiations continue. According to Jewish Insider, the spokesperson said that Schumer urged the Biden administration to stand against ICC arrest warrants for Israeli officials.”