Consultant Marjorie Taylor Greene defended voting in opposition to the investigation of potential warfare crimes being dedicated by Russian forces in Ukraine, suggesting that permitting for a probe from a global courtroom would open floodgates for the prosecution of American service members.

"HR 7276 would hand over authority & our intelligence to the ICJ & ICC - worldwide courts that might put our navy on trial," Greene mentioned in a Thursday assertion. "I can't vote for globalism & the sluggish slide to turn out to be a one world authorities. I'll solely vote to guard America, our navy, & our borders."

Greene was certainly one of solely seven Republicans who voted in opposition to the Home invoice this week, referred to as the Ukraine Invasion Warfare Crimes Deterrence and Accountability Act, which might "accumulate, analyze, and protect proof and data associated to warfare crimes and another atrocities."

There have been rising calls from the worldwide neighborhood to place Russian nationals on trial within the days following the revelations from Bucha, the place a whole bunch of Ukrainians have been killed within the Russian-occupied Kyiv suburb. President Joe Biden and members of Congress have been amongst those that are pushing for a warfare crimes trial in opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Marjorie Taylor Greene War Crimes
On Wednesday, Consultant Marjorie Taylor Greene voted in opposition to Home Invoice 7276, the Ukraine Invasion Warfare Crimes Deterrence and Accountability Act. Greene talks as US President Joe Biden delivers his first State of the Union deal with to a joint session of Congress, on the Capitol on March 1, 2022 in Washington, D.C. J. Scott Applewhite/Getty

Greene was joined by Representatives Andy Biggs, Paul Gosar, Warren Davidson, Thomas Massie and Scott Perry in voting in opposition to the measure on Wednesday.

Consultant Liz Cheney had additionally initially voted in opposition to the movement, however her spokesperson later clarified it was a mistake and that the Home has been knowledgeable that she meant to vote in favor of the invoice.

Massie additionally defended the vote on Thursday, citing related causes as Greene.

"A few of my colleagues and I voted in opposition to this decision partially as a result of it incorporates language that might set the desk for bringing spurious warfare crimes prices in opposition to American service members for errors made throughout navy operations in theaters corresponding to Afghanistan," the Kentucky Republican tweeted.

Individuals have traditionally prevented prosecution from a global judicial physique as a result of whereas the U.S. performed a key function within the creation of the Rome Statute that governs the Worldwide Legal Court docket, it by no means ratified the statute.

Thus, the. U.S. isn't one of many ICC's 123 State Events. Russia and Ukraine are additionally not members of the courtroom. Nonetheless, Ukraine has granted the ICC jurisdiction to research warfare crimes dedicated on its territory.

Putin has contended that Russian nationals can't be tried by the ICC for crimes dedicated in Ukraine as a result of it by no means ratified the Rome Statute—an argument the U.S. has additionally made previously.