Durbin Questions Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco During Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing On Accountability For Russian War Crimes And Crimes Against Humanity In Ukraine

Hearing

"Senior administration officials, including Attorney General Garland, have repeatedly expressed support for the ICC's Ukraine investigation. Congress has made its support clear as well by passing provisions last Congress --on a bipartisan basis--that provide the executive branch with greater flexibility to provide evidence and other forms of support to the Court in relation to Ukraine. Yet I understand that the Administration still has not provided this assistance because of untenable objections by the Department of Defense. As I hear the reports of Russian soldiers beheading Ukrainian prisoners and raping a four year old girl, I am stunned to hear that this is still being debated in Washington. There is simply no debate about the right and moral course of action at this moment. Are the Biden Administration and all the departments of this government united in this effort?

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We've tried to take steps to cooperate [with the international court] by providing evidence and support with the ICC without compromising our position. Do you have any doubt in your mind that we have sufficient legal protection to proceed with cooperating at this level?

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So you've established in your answers to these two questions. First, that this Administration is bound and determined to help in any effort to prosecute war crimes against Vladimir Putin. And second, that doing so, will not compromise our government or our military or any branch of our government… Is that a fair conclusion?"

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