Abuse Quote by John Bolton
“Although we refer to the International Criminal Court, the real problem is the prosecutor, because it's the prosecutor who decides who to investigate and what cases to bring. This court fundamentally embodied a potential for abuse of governmental power that I felt was inconsistent with being a free person - and [it was] inconsistent for a free country like the United States to subscribe to it.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on International Criminal Court, 2018
The ICC's power lies in the prosecutor's discretion, which can be misused, threatening individual liberty and national sovereignty.
In simple terms: Prosecutor decides cases, risking abuse of power.
Key Takeaway
Watch prosecutor discretion.
Themes
law
sovereignty
human rights
accountability
Mood
cautious
critical
Type
political
legal
When to use this quote
- Legal reform
- policy debate
- civil liberties advocacy
- government oversight
Key Concepts
International law
checks and balances
political power
Questions to Reflect On
- How can oversight limit prosecutorial abuse?
- What safeguards protect free nations?
A Different Perspective
Prosecutor discretion can be constrained by political pressures.
