Washington, DC: In the wake of President Bush’s decision to withdraw the United States from the International Criminal Court (ICC) treaty, Congressman Ron Paul yesterday introduced legislation aimed at prohibiting taxpayer funding for the unconstitutional tribunal. Paul, supported by House leadership and several of his congressional colleagues, introduced the request for a funding prohibition as an amendment to a larger defense bill. More than 260 members voted for the amendment, which passed overwhelmingly in a late vote last night.

“President Bush gave notice to the international community that the United States will not participate in a global court that undermines the checks and balances of our Constitution,” Paul stated. “He deserves our praise and our support for bravely standing against the ICC and against UN bureaucrats who have so little regard for our laws. Congress must act to ensure that American taxpayers are not forced to pay for yet another UN scheme- especially one that the President expressly rejected.”

Paul introduced a resolution earlier this week commending President Bush for his bold actions in protecting American citizens and servicemen from the ICC. The resolution also calls upon Congress to protect American citizens from the threat of arrest and prosecution by the ICC, noting (as Defense Secretary Rumsfeld acknowledged) that the ICC will attempt to assert jurisdiction over American citizens despite our withdrawal from the treaty. Paul’s resolution states that attempted prosecutions of American citizens by the ICC will be deemed “acts of aggression” against the U.S.

“We should be perfectly clear about what the globalists want,” Paul stated. “The ICC is intended to further erode national sovereignty by usurping the authority of national courts. In America, however, the Supreme Court is the court of highest authority, and every defendant has rights guaranteed in the Constitution. President Bush stood up to the UN ministers who want to undermine our legal system, and it’s time for Congress do the same.”

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