Genocide Lawsuit Against Joe Biden Dismissed
February 13th, 2024
When the International Court of Justice instructed Israel to avoid any further genocidal acts against Palestinians, the decision came as a surprise to many. Very few people were expecting such a clear response from the ICJ, and it posed numerous implications across the world and the United States. Although the ICJ did not order a ceasefire or find Israel guilty of genocide, the nature of the ruling suggests that the court believes genocide is already taking place. This ruling also poses issues for political leaders of the United States due to America’s military support for Israel.
Why Was Joe Biden Sued for Genocide?
In January of 2024, it was reported that the Biden Administration was facing a lawsuit in Federal Court for its alleged role in the genocide of Palestinians. During the court proceedings, numerous Palestinians testified about what they and their families had experienced during the conflict in Gaza. Specifically, they argued that America’s support for Israel’s military campaign in Gaza made the Biden Administration complicit in genocide. They also argued that Biden should halt all future support if they wish to avoid serious legal issues related to genocide.
Interestingly, the case brought against Biden centered around US law – not international law. The judge in this case seemed to recognize the plight of the Palestinian people, stating:
“The Palestinian people are living in fear and without food, medical care, clean water, or sufficient humanitarian aid. Defendants — the president of the United States and his secretaries of state and defense — have provided substantial military, financial, and diplomatic support to Israel.”
Dismissal of the Genocide Case
However, the judge dismissed the case against Biden because he felt the court lacked proper jurisdiction. He described the dismissal of the case as the most difficult decision of his entire career, later stressing to the defendants that “You have been seen, you have been heard by this court. I’m going to take it extremely seriously.”
It is important to note that if the judge ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, he would be forced to order President Biden to stop providing aid (including thousands of munitions) to Israel. No judge has ever ordered a sitting president to stop conducting military activities, and this would break numerous precedents.
The Relevant Criminal Code
Under 18 U.S.C. 1091, genocide is a criminal offense in the United States. It is defined as “violent attacks with the specific intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group.” Palestinians meet several of these requirements due to their Arab, mostly Muslim identity. 18 U.S.C. 1091 provides a pathway for federal extraterritorial jurisdiction when the offender is a national of the United States.
For the purposes of this discussion, the most relevant section involves subjecting the group to “conditions of life that are intended to cause the physical destruction to the group in whole or in part.” One could argue that by providing thousands of munitions to the Israeli Defense Force, the Biden administration is contributing to this type of destruction. The penalty for this offense is up to 20 years in prison. Merely inciting others to commit genocide is punishable by up to five years in prison.
This lawsuit is not only baseless but also a manifestly malicious endeavor, a clear manifestation of the depths to which MAGA-aligned factions are willing to sink in their relentless pursuit to malign and undermine President Joseph R. Biden. By attempting to attribute the responsibility for the Israel-Palestine conflict and the consequent human tragedies to him, this action disregards the deeply rooted and multifaceted nature of the Middle Eastern dispute, grossly mischaracterizing the role of the United States and its executive leadership in international affairs.
It’s a blatant misfire, aiming to sow discord and mislead the public by drawing a nonexistent line of accountability from the Oval Office to the battlegrounds of a decades-long conflict. This lawsuit transcends mere political disagreement or critique; it is a deliberate act of defamation designed to damage the President’s credibility and leadership on the global stage.
Further, it reveals a troubling strategy employed by some political opponents of the President: leveraging legal systems as weapons of political warfare. Such tactics not only undermine the integrity of the judicial process but also divert attention and resources away from genuine issues that demand addressal. This legal charade, steeped in falsehoods and hyperbole, is an affront to the principles of democratic discourse and governance.
In essence, this lawsuit is emblematic of a broader, more insidious effort to delegitimize a duly elected President through a barrage of unfounded allegations and conspiratorial narratives. It underscores a concerning polarization in American politics, where facts and logic are often overshadowed by partisan fervor and malicious intent. The clear aim is to erode public confidence in President Biden’s administration, leveraging falsehoods as a means to politically destabilize and delegitimize his tenure in office.
The American people, and indeed observers around the world, must recognize this lawsuit for what it truly is: a strategic, baseless attack devoid of legal merit, rooted in political animosity and aimed squarely at discrediting a legitimate leader. It is imperative that the discourse surrounding this and similar issues be guided by factual accuracy, respect for the democratic process, and an unwavering commitment to the principles of justice and integrity.