Mast's Bill Condemning ICC Investigations Into Israel, U.S. Allies, Passes House

Representative Brian Mast (R-FL) recently introduced the Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act, a bill designed to sanction any individual engaged in an effort by the International Criminal Court (ICC) working to “investigate, arrest, detain or prosecute American citizens or an official from an allied U.S. country, including Israel.”

The legislation passed in the House of Representatives on Tuesday by a vote of 247-155. Every Republican from the state of Florida supported the bill (except Rep. Cammack, who didn’t vote). Four Florida Democrats voted for the bill including Representatives Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Jared Moskowitz, Darren Soto, and Lois Frankel. Democratic Rep. Frederica Wilson also did not vote.

Rep. Mast said this of the bill passing in the upper chamber.

“Our legislation sends a clear message to the International Criminal Court,” said Rep. Mast. “We may not recognize you, but you sure as hell will recognize what happens when you target America or its allies.”

Furthermore, major players in the Republican Conference such as Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) provided their comments on the bill as well.

“The International Criminal Court’s threats to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and other Israeli Defense officials expose a campaign to undermine the only democracy in the Middle East, while turning a blind eye to the numerous human right atrocities committed by Hamas,” said Rep. Stefanik. “The ICC is on notice; if they move forward with these illegitimate warrants, the international bureaucrats involved will face consequences.”

Rep. Roy added, “The ICC is an illegitimate court that represents a massive threat to U.S. sovereignty. America's policy should be unquestionably clear: if the ICC goes after our allies, there will be consequences.”

ICC officials, their immediate family members, and individuals providing “financial, material, or technological support” to the organization would be denied visas to enter the United States, according to Mast’s press release. ICC officials already in the country would have their existing visas revoked and face deportation.

Other than Israel, allies of the United States include NATO nations as well as countries such as Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, etc.