Trump, Hegseth Face War Crimes Complaint Over "Torture" Memos

A prominent human rights group has filed a war crimes complaint against former U.S. President Donald Trump and a former senior aide, Pete Hegseth. The complaint, submitted to the International Criminal Court (ICC), centers on the authorization of so-called "enhanced interrogation techniques." These methods, including waterboarding, were used by the CIA on detainees after the September 11 attacks. Many legal experts and governments define these techniques as torture. The complaint alleges that memos signed by Trump in 2018 and promoted by Hegseth effectively reinstated the CIA's authority to use these harsh methods. This authorization, the group argues, violates international laws against torture and war crimes. The filing is largely symbolic. The ICC has not opened an investigation, and the United States does not recognize the court's authority. However, the action seeks to create an official legal record of the allegations. It represents a direct challenge to U.S. counterterrorism policy from the past two decades. Human rights advocates call it a necessary step for accountability.