Good morning, everyone. Thank you for joining me today, two days in a row. And thanks to secretary esper, attorney general barr and ambassador or National Security advisor obrien for being with me on this important occasion as many of you know. I have an important affection for our service men and women. Im a veteran myself, and heres a scenario that i think about a lot. Imagine american soldiers, sailors airmen, marine, or Intelligence Officers on leave family, maybe on a beach in europe. And over the course of two decades or more this soldier defended america. Then suddenly that vacation turns into a nightmare. The European CountriesNational Police takes the soldier into custody, detaining him or her on politically motivated charges, a prison sentence abroad is a distinct possibility. A spouse behind bars for defending freedom, a son or daughter robbed of their mom or dad, all on the initiative of a prosecutor in the netherlands. Making sure this does not happen is the essence of american first foreign policy. Sadly, this is not a hypothetical. It could become reality if the International Court follows through with their crusade against American Service members. Many of you might recall in november of 2017, the Courts Office of the prosecutor announced intentions to investigate our brave warriors for alleged crimes arising from Counterterrorism Missions in afghanistan. It was not a prosecution of justice, it was a persecution of americans. Prosecution were to proceed, it would make a mockery of due process. There is no requirement for unanimously unanimity for a conviction. At the prosecution can rely on hearsay to obtain a conviction. There is no real guarantee of a speedy trial. Instead of facing a jury of ones peers, it is a panel of judges who are not subject to any american accountability. The way that aed responsible nation must, by condemning the investigation, by suspending cooperation with the tort, and denying visas those most directly responsible for going after our personnel. We welcomed growing criticism and cause to reform the court from countries like the u. K. In japan. It looked like they might do the right thing and kill the investigation. But last spring, the Pretrial Chamber unanimously rejected the prosecutors request to open the investigation. But unfortunately, then in march, the Appeals Chamber overturned that sound judgment and gave a green light to the investigation, eliminating constraints on the Prosecutors Office and their ability to launch new best occasions of americans in the future. We will not stand by as our people are threatened by a kangaroo court, and indeed i have a message to close allies around the world, your people could be next. Especially those from nato countries who fought terrorism in afghanistan alongside us. There all concerned about threat that this poses to israel. The icc is already threatening israel with an investigation of war crimes committed by its forces on the west bank and in the gaza strip. Given israels robust ability in the military system and a strong track record of investigating wrongdoing by its personnel, it is clear the icc is only putting israel in its crosshairs for nakedly political purposes. It is a mockery of justice. More than 300 numbers of congress my republicans and democrats, sent me letters asking u. S. Support israel in the face of this politicized attack. That is what the u. S. Is dead set on doing and with good reason, they are a trusted and wonderful partner and a buttress of american security. They rogue court can intimidate our friend or any other ally into giving up its right of selfdefense, that puts americans at risk as well. Absent corrective action, we expect the icc will continue its present reckless course. I have laid out the courts process laws and to the danger it poses to americans and its allies, but we oppose the court also because it is ineffective and corrupt. In 18 years of operation, the court must have to buy nearly 1000 people, have secured only for convictions and they have spent over 1 billion. Nonetheless, the judges recently brought suit against their own court, seeking a 26 pay raise from their taxfree annual salary. That is a quarter of a Million Dollars u. S. Dollars. This record of botched prosecutions has cast doubt on the courts ability to function at the most basic level and demonstrates a highly politicized nature of this institution. Which brings me to the reason we are here today. The Trump Administration is taking the following actions. First, we are authorizing the imposition of economic sanctions against icc officials directly engaged in icc efforts to investigate u. S. Personnel or allied personnel against that highlighted the states consent. In against others who Material Support such officials and their activities. Designations will be made on a casebycase basis against specific individuals or entities. Second, the u. S. Is expanding visa restrictions for officials engaged in those same investigations. We are extending and expanding these restrictions to include their family members. Gives us no joy to punish them, but we cannot allow icc officials and their families to come to the u. S. , to shop, travel and otherwise enjoy american freedoms as these same officials seek to prosecute the defender of those freedoms. I will close by saying this. Never forget the american commitment to real justice and accountability, from the nuremberg and tokyo trials in world war ii, to the more recent yugoslavian tribunals, the u. S. Is always sought to uphold good and punish people through International Law and we will continue to do so. When our own people do wrong, we lawfully punish those individuals who tarnish the reputation of our great u. S. Military and intelligence services. We hold our own accountable, better than the icc has done for the worst perpetrators of mass criminal atrocities. Today, we stand for clarity, sovereignty, we stand for our citizens, and i want to say thank you for each of you for being up here with me today. I will turn the podium over to secretary esper. Thank you,sper secretary pompeo and thank you for your genuine concern for our Service Members. Good morning. Thank you for being here for this important announcement. Today, the president took Decisive Action with an executive order that will protect american citizens and our nations sovereignty, and defend our National Security interests and those of our allies. The International Criminal courts efforts to prosecute americans are inconsistent with fundamental principles of International Law and the practice of International Courts. As executive order notes, the u. S. Is not a party to the rome statute that created the icc, nor have we ever accepted its jurisdiction over our personnel. That is why our nation and this administration will not allow american citizens who have served our country to be subjected to illegitimate investigations. Instead, we expect information about alleged misconduct about our people to be turned over to the u. S. Authorities, so that we can take the appropriate action, as we have consistently done so in the past. The u. S. Maintains the sovereign right and obligation to properly investigate and address any of our personnels alleged violations of the laws of war. We have a proven record of doing just that through an american Justice System imminently capable of handling each case. This includes investigating and prosecuting the alleged abuse of detainees and any other misconduct. Ultimately, our Justice System ensures our people are held to account under the u. S. Thetitution, not International Criminal court or other overreaching intergovernmental bodies. Moreover, there is no other force more disciplined and committed to compliance of the laws of war than the United States military, which has made lasting contributions to the cause of justice and accountability in armed conflict. For example, a military led prosecutions and tribunals including at nuremberg, as mentioned, in addition to providing could support in the International Criminal tribunal for the former yugoslavia. We have consistently provided training on the role of law and have given assistance to scores of partners and allies around the globe. Additionally, since our founding, the u. S. Military has fought to liberate the oppressed and defeat the enemies of justice from tripoli, to normandy, and from korea to canada bar. Nearly 800,000 u. S. Troops have served in afghanistan over the past 19 years, more than 20,000 of them were wounded in combat and regrettably, nearly 2000 americans, brave americans, lay down their lives to stop terrorism and protect u. S. And allied citizens, including those in the hague, and to give the Afghan People a chance at a better life. We will not allow the unjust treatment of these or any other american personnel who have dedicated themselves to the calls of justice, security and opportunity for all. Today, our Service Members remain on the front lines in the fight against terrorism, war criminals and perpetrators of genocide, such as isis. I am proud of the work u. S. Military conducts every day to protect human rights, safeguard liberty and uphold rules based order. That is why the department fully supports the president s executive order and will take every action to defend our Service Members. Rest assured that the men and women of the u. S. Armed forces will never appear before the icc, nor will they ever be subjected to the judgments of unaccountable international bodies. In short, i would like to think the president for sending a clear message to the International Community that we will always protect americans, no matter where they serve, from harassment, abuse and overreach by organizations outside of our own Justice System. I want to also thank my colleagues for playing a role in that effort. Together, we once again the icc to respect International Law and american sovereignty. We also ask those in the rome statute to respect her decision. And we reaffirm the u. S. Will continue to uphold the rule of andto honor our commitments defend our core values. I will be followed by attorney general william barr. Barr thankeral you. Pompeo. U, secretary as many of you know, they were soldiers and great americans and it is a privilege to join them and the attorney general. As my colleagues made clear, as general barr will make clear, we are here today to defend american sovereignty. And to the American People who have served our nation. Effort to target American Servicemen and women and other Public Servants are unfounded, illegitimate and make a mockery of justice. The reasons why are clear. First and foremost, the u. S. Did not ratify the statute of rome that founded the icc and successive administrations have stood by that decision. As a result, the u. S. And its citizens have never been subject to icc procedures or jurisdiction. As the secretary laid out, the icc is a failed institution, despite repeated calls for u. K. , from allies in the japan, germany and other countries the court is ineffective, unaccountable and is a politically motivated rocker c. To make matters worse, this specific investigation of American Servicemen and women in afghanistan, we have reason to believe our adversaries are manipulating the icc by encouraging these allegations. These tactics represent an attempt to submerge justice. Further, we know there is corruption and misconduct at the highest levels of the icc and in the office of the prosecutor. Holds the United States the men and women of our armed forces to the highest standards, and in rare cases where they violate laws and norms, they are held to account by military and civilian courts in our country. I was a jag officer and i can tell you that the u. S. Justice systems are far more effective at Holding Americans accountable than the icc ever has been or ever will be. And we will never allow our american soldiers to fall under the jurisdiction of that accord, of that purported court. Do not need a corruption corrupted body to question our system of justice for our soldiers. And those who have left the service. The men and women who serve the nation are accountable to the constitution, to which they swore an oath, to their commander in chief, and institutions established by the American People come into nobody else. We will not put them, our soldiers and others, at the mercy of any corrupted international organization, nor will we stand by as they are persecuted by those who are seeking to damage our country. I witnessed the signing of the executive order yesterday. The president has no higher priority than protecting the American People. And as the order makes clear, he will do what it takes to defend our sovereignty and the men and women who serve and sacrifice for the nation. Thank you very much. Here is attorney general william barr. Thank you. I am pleased to join my colleagues today in support of the president s actions against the criminal court. The decision to authorize an investigation into the conduct of u. S. Personnel who were fighting to defeat terrorists in afghanistan and bring peace and prosperity to the Afghan People, validates our longstanding concerns about the icc. This institution has become little more than a Political Tool employed by unaccountable international elites. These people will that this tool to manipulate and undercut the foreign policies of the democratically accountable sovereign nation and other nations, including the United States. The United States has been mentioned the United States, as mentioned, has never consented to icc jurisdiction. Worst yet, we are concerned that foreign powers like russia are also manipulating the icc in pursuit of their own agenda. The measures announced today are an important first step in holding the icc accountable for exceeding its mandate and violating its sovereignty of the United States. The u. S. Government has reason to doubt the honesty of the icc. The department of justice has received substantial credible information that raises serious concerns about a long history of financial corruption and malfeasance at the highest levels of the office of the prosecutor. This information calls into question the integrity of the investigations. This includes information going back many years about multiple matters including recent an er viewand it has may well have a bearing on in our view may well have a bearing on the current investigation announced by the icc. The department of justice together with partners across the United States government is investigating, and we are committed to uncovering and if possible Holding People accountable for their wrongdoing , any wrongdoing, that we may find. The executive actions announced to hear will ensure that those who assist the iccs politically motivated investigation of American Service members and Intelligence Officers without the United States consent will suffer serious consequences. The department of justice fully supports these measures and will vigorously enforce the sanctions imposed today under the executive order to the fullest extent of the law. Thank you. Cspans washington journal. Every day, we are taking your calls live on the air. And we will discuss policy issues that impact you. Renaming, a fight over military installations named for confederate generals. And a professor of infectious dss will be on to talk about the latest on the coronavirus pandemic. And then a republican governor from arkansas talks about the rise of covid cases in his state and protests of George Floyds death. Be sure to join the discussion with your phone calls, Text Messages and tweets. Cspan has unfiltered coverage of congress, the white house, the supreme court, and Public Policy events. Can watch all of cspans Public Affairs programming on television, online, or listen on our free radio app. Be part of the discussion on the daily washington journal program. Or in our social media feed rate cspan, created by americas coming up, a hearing on russian interference in the 2016 elections within Voting Rights and Election Security during the pandemic. Judiciary committee subpoenas. The committee voted on party lines. It included multiple individuals