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Michael Popak
Lawyer Eric Iverson, an Army veteran, wants to do is prosecute war crimes at the International Criminal court, particularly in Dar 4. And now he's had to file a federal lawsuit against Trump and the Trump administration because Donald Trump doesn't like the International Criminal Court. We're already not a part of it as Americans. He doesn't like it because they're going after Israel and some other other places. And it but he's taken it one step further once again and put the International Criminal Court and everybody that works for it on a watch list, a block list, a blacklist, and authorizing the Treasury Department to go after these people. Well, Eric Iverson's a lawyer. He's an American, but he's a lawyer in the Hague, in the Netherlands, prosecuting war crimes. Every administration's been about prosecuting war crimes, but not the Trump administration, and it's certainly not allies of Donald Trump. So they issued in February, something I covered, then a declaration against the International Criminal Court. And now Eric Iverson has said I can't do my job and it violates my First Amendment right. I just want to be a war prosecutor in the Hague. Yeah, I'm an American. But now you're going to put me on a Treasury block list. You're going to go after my assets, you're going to find me because I'm doing my job at the International Criminal Court. Side note, ICC is also where Jack Smith, the special prosecutor came from for Donald Trump. Now he was assigned to the Kosovo unit, but it's the same thing, same difference. So this lawsuit now filed is gonna get to the bottom of it once and for all. It's one thing to say America's not gonna be a signatory and be a participant in the International Criminal Court. Cuz we don't want foreign, you know, tribunals to be used against Americans. It's another thing to stop Americans from working at the International Criminal Court. And it's not just Eric Iverson. There are dozens and dozens and dozens of Americans or people affiliated with Americans that work for the International Criminal Court. I mean, George Clooney's married to one of them. Okay, so I think we gotta draw the line in the sand and start saying that as Americans. Americans exercising their First Amendment right can go work at places like the International Criminal Court, even though, you know, we are not direct participants in it, nor do we fund it. I'm Michael Popak, you're on the Midas Touch network and Legal af. Hey, you want to know how to help us here as we talk about this hot take? You can hit the subscribe button for Midas Touch. You can come over to Legal AF, the YouTube channel, and hit the subscribe button there as well and help us continue to grow this pro democracy channel. And we got a Legal AF sub stack. We'll put up some info about it now at the intersection of law and politics. So let's get down to this particular lawsuit. Eric Iverson was Army veteran.
Co-Host
He's assigned to a very narrow niche.
Michael Popak
He's a niche specialist, Darfur war crimes. But he got sucked up by the imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court February 5th executive orders. No other way around it. And what he wants the federal judge to declare is that his First Amendment rights have been violated. He can't do his job. Let me read to you from page 23. It says the executive order on paragraph 65 prohibits Mr. Iverson and others like him from from engaging in speech and advocacy that defendants determine constitutes the provisions of services to Kareem Khan, who's the chief prosecutor and the head of the of that office. Mr. Iverson wishes to continue pursuing his investigational and prosecutorial mandates in Darfur at the direction of the Criminal Court, but has been chilled from doing so because of the substantial risk that he will be penalized for providing services for the benefit of Prosecutor Khan, because Khan is.
Co-Host
Listed by name in the Executive Order.
Michael Popak
Appendix as being blacklisted, including having his property blocked. But this guy works for Khan effectively. It's his boss, right? So there we have that. Now the organization, I think it's very interesting the organization that's brought this case is the human Rights first. See this See out of the forest fire of Donald Trump has now popped up a number, a number of different new public interest groups and law firms. Abby Lowell, who represented Hunter Biden, just left his law firm, created a new law firm, and their sole focus is on helping people who have been vindictively prosecuted or investigated or blacklisted by the Trump administration. And business will be booming, I assure you. That's one the Weather it's heating up.
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Michael Popak
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Michael Popak
Secondly, you've got the other groups, like Democracy First, Democracy Forward here, Human Rights first, and all of that. You've got a lot of groups there that are bringing these kind of lawsuits, and they have to do it. This is, again, Donald Trump using his bully pulpit to go after organizations that he doesn't like or that he sees as enemies of his, of his allies. But, but we have to draw a line somewhere. As Americans, you know, we may not want the International Criminal Court to be used against us, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't support its principles against, against people who violate the rule of law internationally. In fact, on page, on paragraph, paragraph 27, sorry. Of the filing this new lawsuit, Eric Iverson's lawyers say that every administration from George W. Bush to the present has supported the prosecution of those culpable for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity in Darfur. He just wants to do the Darfur thing. You know, he's not going after. He's not even involved with Israel and any prosecutions there. But why would you want to pull the rug out from under these kind of prosecutions? Because nobody can understand how broad the executive order is. And that's why the suit has been brought against Trump and Bondi and Marco Rubio and Scott Bessant. Because all this guy's trying to do is avoid being sanctioned, having his paycheck confiscated and being put on a blacklist travel list blocking him from travel, a ban, because he's doing God's work, so to speak, working for the International Criminal Court, based in the Hague. Trust me, this guy can make tons more money if he was in the private sector. He doesn't have to do this. It's not about the money. And we're going to continue to follow it all. Look, the reason these things are all important, whether it's federal judges fighting back against Donald Trump, law firms fighting back against Donald Trump, lawyers at the International Criminal Court fighting back against Donald Trump. Because if we don't, you see what the bully in chief will do? He will defund, he will destroy, he will dismantle. And we'll have to just, in four years or three and a half years, we're gonna have to put all this back together again. And the more that we can do now and the more the federal courts can protect us and protect ultimately, and put a ring fence around the rule of law, the better. And you know, we're not. What we're watching is the battle between the Trump administration and the federal courts. And so far, federal courts are winning that battle. You know, Donald Trump is losing 90% of the cases that have been filed against him and 90% or more of the injunctions that have been filed against him. And he even has a losing record at the United States Supreme Court. So I'll continue to follow this particular case. I think it's very important about our place as leaders of the free world. I'm not here advocating that we directly sign the International Criminal Court governing documents, but I am saying we should allow Eric Iverson to go after bad guys in Darfur for war crimes and genocide. And I think all free thinking and moderate people and freedom loving people and rule of law people would feel the exact same way. So until my next reporting, you know where to go Legal AF the YouTube channel Legal AF MTN, Legal AF the podcast here on the Midas Touch Network and of course Legal AF the substack for all the information like this particular filing that you'll only find here on all things Legal af. So until my next report, I'm Michael Popak in collaboration with the Midas Touch Network. We just launched the Legal AF YouTube channel. Help us build this pro democracy channel where I'll be curating the top stories. The intersection of law, Politics. Go to YouTube now and free subscribe @legalafmtn. That's @legalafmtn.
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Legal AF Podcast Summary: "War Crimes Prosecutor Makes His Move Against Trump"
Podcast Information:
In this episode of Legal AF, host Michael Popok examines a significant legal battle involving Eric Iverson, an American war crimes prosecutor at the International Criminal Court (ICC), and former President Donald Trump. The discussion centers on Iverson's federal lawsuit against Trump and his administration, highlighting the broader implications for the rule of law and America's relationship with international legal institutions.
Timestamp: [01:28]
Michael Popok introduces Eric Iverson, an Army veteran specializing in prosecuting war crimes in Darfur under the ICC's jurisdiction. Iverson has filed a federal lawsuit against Donald Trump and key members of his administration, including Bondi, Marco Rubio, and Scott Bessant. The lawsuit contends that executive orders issued in February 2025 have unfairly targeted ICC affiliates, effectively preventing Iverson from performing his duties.
Notable Quote:
"I can't do my job and it violates my First Amendment right." — Eric Iverson [01:28]
Timestamp: [04:06]
Popok elaborates on the scope of the executive orders, which place Iverson and other ICC-affiliated Americans on a Treasury block list. This action not only freezes their assets but also restricts their ability to travel and work with the ICC. Iverson's lawsuit seeks a declaration from a federal judge that these measures infringe upon his First Amendment rights, thereby restoring his capacity to prosecute war crimes.
Notable Quote:
"He can't do his job and it violates his First Amendment right." — Michael Popok on behalf of Iverson [01:28]
Popok emphasizes that Iverson is not alone; dozens of Americans associated with the ICC are similarly affected. This includes high-profile individuals like George Clooney, whose spouse works for the ICC, illustrating the broad reach of the administration's sanctions.
Timestamp: [07:32]
Following a brief advertisement break, Popok discusses the emergence of various public interest groups and law firms, such as Human Rights First and Democracy Forward. These organizations, including Abby Lowell’s new law firm dedicated to defending those targeted by the Trump administration, are actively supporting Iverson's lawsuit and similar cases. Popok highlights the pivotal role these groups play in countering what he describes as Trump's "bully pulpit" tactics against perceived enemies.
Notable Quote:
"We've got a lot of groups there that are bringing these kinds of lawsuits, and they have to do it." — Michael Popok [07:32]
Timestamp: [07:54]
Popok outlines the ongoing legal battle between the Trump administration and federal courts. He notes a trend where federal courts are consistently ruling against Trump in various cases, with a "losing record" that includes decisions from the United States Supreme Court. This judicial pushback is crucial in maintaining checks and balances against executive overreach.
Notable Quote:
"Donald Trump is losing 90% of the cases that have been filed against him and 90% or more of the injunctions that have been filed against him." — Michael Popok [07:54]
Timestamp: [09:15]
The discussion underscores the fundamental importance of upholding the rule of law, both domestically and internationally. Popok argues that allowing prosecutors like Iverson to continue their work at the ICC is essential for holding perpetrators of genocide and war crimes accountable, regardless of political leadership within the United States. He advocates for supporting international judicial efforts even if the U.S. is not a direct participant in the ICC.
Notable Quote:
"We should allow Eric Iverson to go after bad guys in Darfur for war crimes and genocide." — Michael Popok [10:45]
Michael Popok concludes the episode by reinforcing the need for vigilance in defending democratic institutions and the rule of law against attempts to undermine them. He calls on listeners to support the Legal AF channel and stay informed about ongoing legal battles that shape the intersection of law and politics.
Notable Quote:
"Until my next reporting, you know where to go Legal AF the YouTube channel Legal AF MTN, Legal AF the podcast here on the Midas Touch Network and of course Legal AF the substack for all the information like this particular filing that you'll only find here on all things Legal AF." — Michael Popok [11:15]
Legal Challenge: Eric Iverson’s lawsuit challenges the Trump administration’s executive orders targeting ICC affiliates, arguing a violation of First Amendment rights.
Broader Impact: The sanctions affect multiple American professionals connected to the ICC, limiting their ability to prosecute international war crimes.
Organizational Support: New and existing public interest groups are actively supporting legal actions against the administration’s policies.
Judicial Support: Federal courts have largely sided against Trump in related legal disputes, indicating judicial resistance to executive overreach.
Rule of Law: Upholding international judicial cooperation is crucial for global accountability, irrespective of U.S. administrative positions.
This episode of Legal AF provides a comprehensive analysis of the legal struggles faced by American affiliates of the International Criminal Court in the wake of executive actions by the Trump administration. By highlighting Eric Iverson's lawsuit and the broader implications for international law and democratic principles, the podcast underscores the ongoing battle to maintain the rule of law in both national and international arenas.
For more updates and in-depth legal analysis, subscribe to the Legal AF YouTube channel, podcast, and Substack through the MeidasTouch Network.