Representative Mike Haridopolos (R-FL) praised the passage of the Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act in the House of Representatives in a recent statement, saying, "This bill sends a strong message to the international community that we will not allow the ICC or any unelected body to undermine our sovereignty or target our allies."
The Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act was jointly introduced by Representatives Chip Roy (R-TX) and Brian Mast (R-FL), which sanctions officials in the International Criminal Court (ICC) who attempt to prosecute American citizens or American allies such as Israel.
In May, the ICC issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials, despite Hamas being the aggressor in the ongoing conflict by perpetrating the horrific attacks of October 7th, 2023.
Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers have condemned the Court's actions, with President Joe Biden stating, "We reject the ICC's application for arrest warrants against Israeli leaders. Whatever these warrants may imply, there is no equivalence between Israel and Hamas. And it's clear Israel wants to do all it can to ensure civilian protection."
Notably, several Republican Senators, spearheaded by Senator Rick Scott (R-FL), sought to have Karim Khan, the ICC prosecutor who issued the warrants, investigated for potential ties to Hamas in June.
As a result, Rep. Roy's Illegitimate Court Counteraction bill passed the House with 243 votes in favor, including all 198 Republicans present and 45 Democrats. The remaining 140 votes against were all Democrats.
In a personal statement upon the bill's passage, Rep. Haridopolos said, "This bill sends a strong message to the international community that we will not allow the ICC or any unelected body to undermine our sovereignty or target our allies."
Additionally, he chastised the Court's charges against Israel as "a clear example of their politicized agenda." He emphasized, "ThisĀ bill is about preserving our rights and standing firm in defense of our nation and our allies. I am proud to stand with my colleagues in passing this legislation."
