Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Philadelphia’s DA have warned troops they’ll face charges that Trump can’t save them from if they violate residents.

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Philadelphia’s DA have warned troops they’ll face charges that Trump can’t save them from if they violate residents.

As Donald Trump floats expanding his authoritarian military crackdown to liberal-led cities beyond the nation’s capital, troops deployed to carry out his anti-democratic schemes might be at risk of prosecution themselves — and the pardon-happy president may not be able to save them.

Thus far, by my count, two Democrats in states that may find themselves targeted have vowed to spur local or state prosecutions — which couldn’t be overturned with a presidential pardon — for anyone who violate residents’ rights if and when the Trump administration expands its troop deployment.

  • Archangel1313@lemmy.ca
    443·
    4 days ago

    They should start with whoever gave the order to murder 11 people off the coast of Venezuela. And then work their way down to everyone who chose to follow that order.

        • Boddhisatva@lemmy.worldEnglish
          111·
          3 days ago

          Is it a war crime? There’s no declared war. I think it’s just a regular murder in international waters. I think the boat was registered in Venezuela so they should bring charges against Trump and whoever fired the shot/missile that did it.

          When a murder occurs on the high seas, the primary basis for legal authority is “flag state jurisdiction.” Under international law, a ship is governed by the laws of the country where it is registered, known as the flag state. Article 92 of UNCLOS establishes that a ship on the high seas is subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of its flag state. The vessel is treated as a piece of that nation’s territory.

          Other legal principles can create overlapping jurisdictional claims. The “nationality principle” allows the country of which the alleged perpetrator is a citizen to assert jurisdiction, regardless of where the crime took place. This means a country may have laws allowing it to prosecute its nationals for serious crimes committed abroad.

          Another basis for jurisdiction is the “passive personality principle,” which allows the victim’s country of citizenship to claim the right to prosecute. This principle was asserted by the United States following the 1985 hijacking of the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro, where an American citizen was murdered. Even though the crime occurred on an Italian-flagged vessel, the U.S. asserted its right to prosecute the perpetrators.

          • Kirp123@lemmy.world
            18·
            3 days ago

            War crimes also included deliberate attacks on citizens and property of neutral states, such as the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. As the attack on Pearl Harbor happened while the U.S. and Japan were at peace and without a just cause for self-defense, the attack was declared by the Tokyo Trials to go beyond justification of military necessity and therefore constituted a war crime.

            Yeah it was a war crime. The US and Venezuela are at peace and there was no just cause for self defense.