Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Trump Lawyer Argues Against Afghan War Crimes Investigation

Reuters

   THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS - A lawyer for U.S. PresidentDonald Trump argued
   at the International Criminal Court onWednesday that prosecutors were
   wrong to seek an investigationinto alleged war crimes in Afghanistan
   that he said "specifically targeted U.S. soldiers."

   ICC judges in April rejected the request of prosecutor FatouBensouda to
   examine atrocities allegedly committed between 2003and 2014, including
   alleged mass killings of civilians by theTaliban, as well as prisoner
   torture by Afghan authorities andto a lesser extent by U.S. forces and
   the CIA. Sheis appealing that decision.

   Trump lawyer Jay Sekulow, speaking as a "friend of thecourt" in the
   case, told judges that they should not allow theprosecutor to open a
   case that targeted American troops when theUnited States is not a
   member of the court.

   "This is a direct move by the prosecutor on U.S. interests. ...I think
   it would be naive to think that's not the case," hetold journalists
   after the hearing, adding that the case"specifically targeted U.S.
   soldiers and also intelligenceofficers."

.