JOHN: TONIGHT ON PBS NEWS WEEKEND -- WITH A HOUSE VOTE LOOMING ON FORCING THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO RELEASE ITS JEFFREY EPSTEIN FILES, PRESIDENT TRUMP LASHES OUT AGAINST A MAGA ALLY WHO SAYS HIS OPPOSITION IS A "HUGE MISCALCULATION."

THEN, SCIENTISTS SEARCH FOR WHY A MAN WITH A GENETIC PREDISPOSITION FOR ALZHEIMER'S SEEMS TO BE PROTECTED FROM IT.

AND, HOW SANCTIONS AGAINST MEMBERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT MAY BE JEOPARDIZING ITS ABILITY TO FUNCTION.

>> IT'S REALLY HARD TO IMAGINE A WORLD WHERE WE DON'T HAVE THIS INSTITUTION.

THE U.S.

IS A VERY LARGE, VERY POWERFUL COUNTRY WITH A LOT OF INTERESTS AND I THINK THAT MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT WHEN IT'S ACTIVELY HOSTILE TOWARD YOU.

JOHN: GOOD EVENING.

I'M JOHN YANG.

PRESIDENT TRUMP CONTINUES TO BE DOGGED BY A MAN WHO'S BEEN DEAD FOR MORE THAN SIX YEARS -- JEFFREY EPSTEIN.

LATE YESTERDAY, THE PRESIDENT BROKE WITH REPRESENTATIVE MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE, A ONE-TIME STAUNCH ALLY WHO WAS AMONG FOUR HOUSE REPUBLICANS WHO JOINED ALL 214 DEMOCRATS TO FORCE A VOTE NEXT WEEK ON RELEASING THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT'S EPSTEIN FILES.

IN A TRUTH SOCIAL POST, MR.

TRUMP CALLED HER A RANTING LUNATIC AND SAID ALL I SEE WACKY MARJORIE DO IS COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN, COMPLAIN.

MR.

TRUMP LEFT WASHINGTON LATE YESTERDAY BUT COULDN'T ESCAPE THE CONTROVERSY.

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE HE SOUGHT TO DEFLECT ATTENTION ONTO POLITICAL OPPONENTS.

PRES.

TRUMP: IT'S REALLY WHAT DID HE MEAN WHEN HE SAID HE SPEND TIME WITH BILL CLINTON, WITH THE PRESIDENT OF HARVARD, YOU KNOW, THAT IS SUMMERS, UH, LARRY SUMMERS, WHATEVER HIS NAME IS, AND ALL THE OTHERS THAT HE SPENT TIME WITH.

JOHN: THERE HAVEN'T BEEN ANY ALLEGATIONS THAT EITHER FORMER PRESIDENT CLINTON OR LARRY SUMMERS DID ANYTHING WRONG.

JONATHAN LEMIRE IS A STAFF WRITER AT THE ATLANTIC.

WE SHOULD START OFF BY SAYING THERE ARE NO ALLEGATIONS OF WRONGDOING AGAINST THE PRESIDENT EITHER IN THIS BUT THE STORY GOT GASSED THIS WEEK BECAUSE OF NEW MATERIAL RELEASE.

REMIND US WHAT WAS IT AND WHAT DID WE LEARN NEW ABOUT THE PRESIDENT'S RELATIONSHIP WITH EPSTEIN.

JONATHAN: WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE SO-CALLED EPSTEIN FILES FOR YEARS NOW AND THAT IS NOT WHAT WE GOT THIS WEEK HERE WOULD WHAT HAPPENED WAS, A FEW EMAILS WERE RELEASED BY DEMOCRATS FROM THE HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE THAT SHED NEW LIGHT ON THE EPSTEIN-TRUMP RELATIONSHIP.

WE HAVE KNOWN THEY WERE FRIENDS.

PERHAPS CLOSER FRIENDS THAN THE PRESIDENT WOULD LIKE THE PUBLIC TO KNOW.

IN RESPONSE TO THAT REPUBLICANS GRABBED 23,000 EMAILS TO FLOOD THE ZONE TO DISTRACT FROM THE DAMAGING ONES THAT CAME OUT, THOUGH I DON'T THINK IT WORKS BECAUSE SOME OF THOSE EMAILS ALSO, A LOT OF THEM, MENTIONED TRUMP, AND MADE CLEAR THAT EPSTEIN AND TRUMP WERE FRIENDS AND SPEND A LOT OF TIME TOGETHER.

THEY DID LATER HAVE A FALLING OUT.

WHAT IS SO STRIKING ABOUT IT, IT IS A RARE MOMENT WHEN REPUBLICANS ARE WILLING TO DEFY HIM.

SOME OF HIS MOST ROYAL -- LOYAL ALLIES HAVE DISPUTED CALLS TO LET THIS GO AWAY AND WE GO BARRELING TOWARD A VOTE ON THE HOUSE FLOOR IN THE COMING DAYS.

JOHN: GIVEN THE MATERIAL RELEASED, THE DISCHARGE PETITION TO FORCE THE VOTE, WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE WAY THE PRESIDENT IS REACTING AND RESPONDING TO THIS?

JONATHAN: AS I WROTE FOR THEY ATLANTIC THIS WEEK EVEN HIS CLOSEST ALLIES ARE PUZZLED BY HIS APPROACH.

AS ONE SAID TO ME THIS IS NOT HOW YOU ACT IF YOU DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO HIDE.

IT HAS BEEN A MAJOR CAUSE FOR SO MANY ON THE RIGHT FOR SO LONG TO UNEARTH THESE SO-CALLED FILES.

IT DOES SEEM THE HOUSE HAS ENOUGH VOTES TO PASS IT NEXT WEEK, THEN IT WILL MOVE TO THE SENATE.

AS I REPORTED, TRUMP IS CONSIDERING ASSURING SENATORS TO BE KILLED THERE IN THE UPPER CHAMBER.

IF IT WERE TO PAST THERE, HE WOULD HAVE A CHOICE TO WHICH WE ASSUME HE WOULD, BUT IT WOULD RAISE MORE QUESTIONS.

WHAT IS HE TRYING TO HIDE?

THIS IS THE NUMBER ONE MYSTERY WASHINGTON.

JOHN: WHAT EFFECT IS THIS HAVING ON THE PRESIDENT COME ON HIS STANDING WITH CONGRESS, MEMBERS OF HIS OWN PARTY?

JONATHAN: IT IS COMING AT EXACTLY THE WRONG TIME FOR TRUMP.

IT COMES AT A TIME IN THE PRESIDENT IS IN HIS SECOND TERM, HIS PARTY SUFFERED LOPSIDED DEFEATS IN THE ELECTIONS EARLIER THIS MONTH.

POLLS SUGGEST NOT ONLY DOES THE PUBLIC BLAME TRUMP AND REPUBLICANS MORE FOR THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN THAT JUST ENDED, BUT SAY TRUMP IS OUT OF TOUCH ON ISSUES LIKE AFFORDABILITY AND PRICES, THE THINGS HE WAS ELECTED ON LAST YEAR.

AS WITH MIDTERMS LESS THAN A YEAR AWAY AND TRUMP DESPERATELY TRYING TO NOT BE PERCEIVED AS A LAME-DUCK AND TRYING TO KEEP REPUBLICANS IN POWER SO HE DOES NOT HAVE TO FACE A DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE, WHICH WOULD HAVE SUBPOENA POWER.

HE IS FLAILING AND STRUGGLING HERE TO COME UP WITH AN ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE TO THE EPSTEIN MATTER.

JOHN: ONLY FOUR HOUSE REPUBLICANS TO FIGHT HIM BUT STILL A LOT OF MAGA SUPPORTERS TALKING ABOUT THE EPSTEIN FILES DURING THE CAMPAIGN.

IS THERE SENSE OF TENSION OR CRACKS IN THE BROADER MAGA COALITION?

JONATHAN: I THINK THERE ARE.

WE ARE SO USED TO THE MAGA BASE CHEERING ON EVERYTHING PRESIDENT TRUMP WANTS AND DOES.

IF YOU WERE TO SAY TO THEM THIS IS IMPORTANT, -- IS NOT IMPORTANT, THEY WOULD MOVE ON.

BUT IT HAS NOT HAPPENED FOR THE EPSTEIN FILES.

FOR SOME ON THE RIGHT IT HAS BEEN A CORE BELIEF FOR A LONG TIME.

EPSTEIN DIED UNDER MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES, THE LIST WILL BRING DOWN POWERFUL PEOPLE AND INSTITUTIONS, THE DEMOCRATS, THEY THINK.

IT IS A HARD THING TO ASK VOTERS TO GIVE UP AND NOW REPUBLICANS HAVE TAKEN A STAND IN THE HOUSE, I SUSPECT SOME OF THE SENATE WILL AS WELL.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO WATCH WHETHER THIS SPRINGS TO LIFE AS AN ISSUE IN THE CONSERVATIVE MEDIA BECAUSE IT DID EARLIER THIS YEAR.

A LOT OF THE MAGA SPHERE, PODCASTS, BLOGS, EVEN CABLE SHOWS SEIZED ON THE EPSTEIN MATTER AND THEY LARGELY STOPPED WHEN HE ASKED THEM TO BUT NOW PERHAPS THOSE QUESTIONS WILL BE REVISED.

JOHN: JONATHAN LEMIRE OF THE ATLANTIC, THANK YOU.

IN THE DAY'S OTHER HEADLINES -- FEDERAL AGENTS ARE MAKING ARRESTS IN CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, AS PART OF THE ADMINISTRATION'S EXPANDING IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN.

HOMELAND SECURITY CONFIRMED THAT THE OPERATION IS UNDERWAY AFTER VIDEOS OF MASKED AGENTS DETAINING PEOPLE WERE SHARED ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

IN RECENT DAYS, LOCAL POLITICIANS HAVE REAFFIRMED THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE CITY'S IMMIGRANT COMMUNITY.

IT'S NOT CLEAR HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DETAINED.

IN ANOTHER SIGN THINGS ARE RECOVERING FROM THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN, AIR TRAVEL IS REBOUNDING AS THE FAA EASES RESTRICTIONS ON COMMERICIAL FLIGHTS AT 40 U.S.

AIRPORTS.

THE AGENCY SAID AIRLINES NEEDED TO CANCEL ONLY 3% OF THEIR FLIGHTS TODAY AS MORE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS RETURN TO WORK AFTER GETTING 70% OF THEIR BACKPAY.

AIRLINES SAY THEY'RE CONFIDENT THAT THEY'LL BE BACK TO NORMAL BY THANKSGIVING WEEK.

MORE THAN 22 MILLION SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS ARE UNDER A FLOOD WATCH THIS WEEKEND, AS A SLOW MOVING, UNUSUALLY STRONG STORM DRENCHES THE REGION.

AS MUCH AS SIX INCHES OF RAIN IS PREDICTED TO FALL THROUGH SUNDAY.

FORECASTERS WARN OF FLOODING, MUDSLIDES AND DEBRIS FLOW - ESPECIALLY AROUND AREAS THAT WERE AFFECTED BY THIS YEAR'S WILDFIRES.

EXPERTS SAY LOS ANGELES COULD RECORD ITS WETTEST NOVEMBER SINCE THE 1980S.

IN GAZA, HEAVY RAINS ARE MAKING CONDITIONS WORSE FOR THE THOUSANDS OF DISPLACED PALESTINIANS LIVING IN TENTS.

SOME ARE SEEKING REFUGE IN THE RUINS OF DESTROYED BUILDINGS.

IN ONE CAMP, RAIN DRIPPED THROUGH MAKESHIFT SHELTERS AND SOAKED BELONGINGS, DESPITE THE TRENCHES CREATED TO DRAIN THE ACCUMULATED WATER.

>> FROM THE FIRST DAY OF RAIN, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED TERRIBLE CONDITIONS.

THE WATER HAS SEEPED INTO OUR MATTRESSES, OUR CLOTHES.

WATER IS LEAKING AND DRIPPING EVERYWHERE.

FLOODING EVERYWHERE.

THIS IS JUST THE FIRST DAY, WHO KNOWS WHAT IS COMING DURING THE WINTER SEASON.

JOHN: AS WINTER APPROACHES, AID GROUPS SAY THE CURRENT SUPPLY OF BLANKETS AND TARPS ISN'T ENOUGH AND MUCH MORE HELP IS NEEDED.

AND IT WAS MOVIE DAY AT THE VATICAN.

POPE LEO WELCOMED HOLLYWOOD FILMMAKERS AND STARS TO CELEBRATE CINEMA AND ITS ABILITY TO INSPIRE.

THOSE INVITED INCLUDED ACTORS CATE BLANCHETT AND CHRIS PINE AND DIRECTOR SPIKE LEE - WHO GAVE THE CHICAGO-BORN POPE A NEW YORK KNICKS JERSEY.

AHEAD OF THE EVENT, THE POPE LEO REVEALED HIS 4 FAVORITE FILMS - -- IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, ORDINARY PEOPLE AND LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL.

STILL TO COME ON "PBS NEWS WEEKEND" -- THE STORY OF ONE MAN WHO'S DEFYING HIS GENETIC DESTINY,AND AVOIDING ALZHEIMER'S.

AND, HOW SANCTIONS IMPOSED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP ARE TAKING A TOLL ON THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT.

♪ ANNOUNCER: THIS IS THE PBS NEWS WEEKEND FROM THE DAVID M. RUBENSTEIN STUDIO AT WETA IN WASHINGTON, HOME OF THE PBS NEWS HOUR WEEKNIGHTS ON PBS.

♪ JOHN: NEARLY SEVEN MILLION AMERICANS CURRENTLY LIVE WITH ALZHEIMER'S -- AND BY 2060, EXPERTS SAY THAT NUMBER COULD BE AS HIGH AS 14 MILLION.

SCIENTISTS ARE TRYING TO FIND OUT HOW ONE MAN HAS BEEN ABLE TO STAVE OFF ALZHEIMER'S FOR 25 YEARS, DESPITE HAVING A RARE GENETIC MUTATION THAT, DOCTORS SAY, ESSENTIALLY GUARANTEED HE'D DEVELOP THE DISEASE BY HIS LATE 40'S OR EARLY 50'S.

ALI ROGIN SPOKE WITH PAM BELLUCK, HEALTH AND SCIENCE REPORTER FOR THE NEW YORK TIMES.

ALI: WELCOME BACK TO THE PROGRAM.

WHO IS THIS ONE MAN AND WHY IS HE PROVEN TO BE SO ESSENTIAL TO ALZHEIMER'S RESEARCH?

JONATHAN: DOUG WHITNEY IS A 76-YEAR-OLD WHO LIVES NEAR SEATTLE AND COMES FROM A FAMILY WHERE A LOT OF MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY HAVE INHERITED A RARE GENETIC MUTATION AND THE REASON WHY DOUG WHITNEY IS SO IMPORTANT IS HE ALSO HAS THE MUTATION, BUT HE HAS NOT DEVELOPED ALZHEIMER'S, AND HE IS ABOUT 25 YEARS PAST THE AGE WHERE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EXPECTED FOR HIM TO DO SO.

SCIENTISTS AT WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE IN ST.

LOUIS WHO STUDY PEOPLE WITH THESE RARE MUTATIONS HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING HIM FOR 14 YEARS DOING ALL KINDS OF TESTS ON HIM, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS HIS BIOLOGICAL SECRET SAUCE PROTECTION -- PROTECTING HIM.

ALI: WHAT HAVE THEY FOUND OUT?

THEY HAVE BEEN STUDYING HIM, RUNNING TESTS, THEY HAVE GONE DOWN SOME AVENUES.

WHAT HAS BECOME CLEAR?

PAM: THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT HIM IS, ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE NOT ONLY THE RARE KIND BUT THE KIND THAT IS MUCH MORE WIDESPREAD HAS TWO PROTEINS THAT ARE HALLMARKS OF THE DISEASE.

ONE IS CALLED, LLOYD, THE -- ONE IS CALLED AMYLOID, THE PLAQUES THAT CLUMP IN THE BRAIN, USUALLY OCCURS SEVEN YEARS BEFORE AND THE SECOND IS TAU, THE ONE THAT FORMS STICKY TANGLES AND MUCH MORE CONNECTED TO SYMPTOMS OF COGNITIVE DECLINE.

SO WHAT THEY FOUND ABOUT DOUG WHITNEY IS, HE HAS A WHOLE LOT OF AMYLOID IN HIS BRAIN.

HE HAS AMYLOID LEVELS THAT SHOULD SUGGEST HE WOULD HAVE ALZHEIMER'S MANY YEARS AGO.

BUT HE HAS VERY, VERY LITTLE TAU .

SO SOMETHING IN HIS BIOLOGY HAS INTERRUPTED THAT PROGRESSION FROM AMYLOID PROTEIN TO TAU PROTEIN AND THAT IS WHAT THEY WANT TO ZERO IN ON.

THEY HAVE DISCOVERED SOME CLUES.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE EXACT ANSWER YET, BUT ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING THINGS THEY FOUND IS, HE HAS A VERY HIGH LEVEL OF A DIFFERENT KIND OF PROTEIN CALLED A HEAT SHOCK PROTEIN.

PROTEINSTHAT FORM IN RESPONSE TO EXPOSURE TO HIGH HEAT AND SERVE A PURPOSE OF KEEPING OTHER KINDS OF PROTEINS THAT TEND TO GO OUT OF WHACK IN NEUROLOGICAL DISORDERS IN THE RIGHT FORMATION.

DOUG WHITNEY HAS A WHOLE LOT OF HEAT SHOCK PROTEINS.

WHY?

ONE REASON MIGHT BE, FOR ABOUT A DECADE HE WAS IN THE NAVY WORKING IN THE ENGINE ROOM OF A STEAM POWERED SHIP FOR MANY HOURS A DAY, EXPOSED TO SUCH HIGH HEAT THAT HE HAD TO BE HOSED DOWN DAILY AND THEY THANK THAT MAY HAVE DRIVEN HIS ACCUMULATION OF THESE HEAT SHOCK PROTEINS AND IF THAT WAS PROTECTING HIM THAT WOULD BE INSTRUCTIVE.

ALI: HOW WILL SCIENTISTS TRANSLATE WHAT THEY HAVE LEARNED ABOUT THIS SUPERHUMAN YET EVERYDAY GUY, INTO BROADER PROGRESS IN THE FIELD OF ALZHEIMER'S RESEARCH?

PAM: FIRST, THEY ARE TRYING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT ELSE MIGHT BE GOING ON IN HIS BIOLOGY.

THEY WILL BE LOOKING AT, ARE THERE OTHER PEOPLE WITH LOTS OF HEAT SHOCK PROTEINS THAT ALSO HAVE DELAYED ALZHEIMER'S.

CAN YOU RE-CREATE THESE EFFECTS IN THE LAB IN CELLS, IN ANIMALS?

CAN YOU FIGURE OUT WHAT EXACTLY IS THE THING CUTTING OFF THE PROGRESSION FROM THOSE AMYLOID PROTEINS TO THE TAU PROTEINS?

IF THEY DID DO THAT THAT WOULD BE HUGE BECAUSE IT COULD HELP INFORM THE DEVELOPMENT OF TREATMENTS THAT COULD DO EXACTLY THAT LONG BEFORE PEOPLE DEVELOP SYMPTOMS OF DEMENTIA.

WE HAVE VERY FEW DRUGS FOR ALZHEIMER'S AND THEY ALL WORK ON A CERTAIN PATH, KNOCKED DOWN AMYLOID.

SO FAR THEY HAVE BEEN SHOWN TO ONLY DO A LITTLE BIT, MAY BE SLOW DOWN THE DISEASE PROGRESSION FOR A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.

IF WE CAN FIND A WAY TO SAY, AMYLOID ACCUMULATION, WE DON'T NEED TO WORRY SO MUCH ABOUT THAT, BUT WE NEED TO CUT IT OFF BEFORE IT SPREADS INTO A TAU ACCUMULATION AND THEY CAN FIGURE OUT A DRUG TO DO THAT, THAT WOULD BE A TREMENDOUS ACHIEVEMENT.

ALI: THANK YOU SO MUCH.

♪ JOHN: THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT, OR ICC, IS KNOWN AS THE COURT OF LAST RESORT.

IT ONLY INTERVENES WHEN NATIONAL COURTS CAN'T OR WON'T PROSECUTE CRIMES LIKE GENOCIDE AND CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY.

THIS YEAR, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SANCTIONED SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE COURT, SAYING IT TARGETS THE UNITED STATES AND ISRAEL.

AND NOW AMERICANS TRYING TO PROSECUTE SOME OF THE WORLD'S WORST CRIMES AT THE ICC ARE DISCOVERING THAT THOSE SANCTIONS ARE PREVENTING THEM FROM DOING THAT.

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT KIRA KAY HAS THE STORY.

KIRA: IN NORTHERN UGANDA RESIDENTS GATHERED IN SEPTEMBER TO WITNESS A SCENE 20 YEARS IN THE MAKING.

CRIMINAL CHARGES PRESENTED AGAINST WARLORD JOSEPH KONY ACCUSED OF KILLING AND KIDNAPPING THOUSANDS DURING HIS DECADE IN THE REGION.

HE PROSECUTOR IS THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY AT THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT IN THE NETHERLAND ALSO KNOWN AS THE ICC.

KONY HIMSELF IS NOT IN THE COURTROOM, HE REMAINS ON THE RUN DESPITE A SIX YEAR MISSION BY U.S.

SPECIAL FORCES TO HUNT HIM DOWN.

>> THE WAR WAS UNBEARABLE.

FINDING YOUR WAY BETWEEN BULLETS AND DEAD BODIES.

WE WALKED UNTIL OUR LEGS WERE TORN.

KIRA: NANCY WAS ONE OF KONY'S VICTIMS, OBJECTED AT AGE 12.

NOW SHE HOPES KONY WILL TURN HIMSELF IN.

>> IF OUR VOICES REACH KONY WHERE HE IS, HE SHOULD LISTEN HUMBLY AND RETURN HOME.

THAT WAY THE PERSON OFFENDING HIM CAN WORK MORE EASILY ON HIS BEHALF.

KIRA: JOSEPH KONY'S WAS THE FIRST TO HAVE SUCH A HEARING IN ICC HISTORY, AS IT TRIES TO MAKE SURE THE CASE DOES NOT STALL INDEFINITELY.

THE TRIBUNAL HAS FACED CRITICISM SINCE IT WAS CREATED IN 2002 ABOUT BEING SLOW AND SELECTIVE IN ITS CASES, SO FAR ONLY CONVICTING AFRICANS.

MOLLY COVERS THE ICC FOR THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.

>> IT IS NOT CONVICTED MANY DEFENDANTS FOR ALL THE TIME AND MONEY PASSED.

VICTIMS WANT JUSTICE, TO FEEL THE WRONG DONE TO THEM WILL BE PUNISHED IN SOME WAY.

KIRA: MORE THAN 120 COUNTRIES AGREE AND ARE MEMBERS OF THE ICC , BUT THE U.S.

IS NOT ONE OF THEM.

IT FEARS THE COURT COULD PROSECUTE AMERICANS.

DESPITE THIS, MANY U.S.

CITIZENS STILL WORK THERE.

>> A NUMBER OF U.S.

TRIAL MEMBERSRE MEMBERS.

WHEN IT BENEFITS U.S.

FOREIGN POLICY THE U.S.

HAS BEEN A BIG FAN OF THE COURT IN A LOT OF WAYS.

WHEN IT DOES NOT BENEFIT U.S.

FOREIGN POLICY, THEY HAVE NOT BEEN A BIG FAN.

KIRA: AMERICAN HUMAN RIGHTS WORKERS ALSO ASSIST THE COURT LIKE MATTHEW SMITH, WHO RUNS AN ORGANIZATION THAT INVESTIGATES ABUSES INCLUDING ATTACKS LIKE THOSE AGAINST THE ROHINGYA.

>> I WAS THERE WHEN THE MILITARY WAS BURNING VILLAGES DOWN, MEN, WOMEN, CHILDREN.

BURNING BODIES ALIVE.

THE FORMER PROSECUTOR AT THE ICC LAUNCHED INVESTIGATION.

KIRA: BUT THOSE EFFORTS ARE IN JEOPARDY AS THE ICC ITSELF HAS COME UNDER ATTACK.

FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

>> THE ICC HAS ENGAGED IN ELIGIBLE TO AND BASELESS ACTIONS TARGETING AMERICA AND OUR CLOSE ALLY ISRAEL.

>> I HAVE APPLICATIONS FOR WARNS OF ARREST.

KIRA: THE COURT INDICTED IS REALLY PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU AND HIS FORMER DEFENSE MINISTER FOR ALLEGED CRIMES IN GAZA.

THE ICC RECOGNIZES PALESTINE AS A STATE MEMBER OF THE COURT AND SAYS IT CAN PROSECUTE CRIMES THAT HAPPEN THERE.

BUT JUST 18 DAYS INTO HIS PRESIDENCY, TRUMP DECLARED THE ICC HAD ABUSED ITS POWER BY CHARGING NONMEMBER STATE ISRAEL.

>> ITS MALIGNED CONDUCT THREATENS TO INFRINGE U.S.

SOVEREIGNTY AND UNDERMINE OUR CRITICAL NATIONAL SECURITY AND FOREIGN POLICY WORK.

KIRA: THE U.S.

TREASURY IMPOSED ECONOMIC SANCTIONS ON NINE ICC PERSONNEL, SIX JUDGES, TWO DEPUTY PROSECUTORS IN THE COURT'S TOP PROSECUTOR, ALL WHO WERE WORKING ON THE GAZA CASE OR WHO HAD ONCE INVESTIGATED AMERICAN TROOPS ACTIONS IN AFGHANISTAN.

THE SANCTIONS ARE UNPRECEDENTED, SAYS MOLLY.

>> THEY ARE EXTREMELY HARSH PENALTIES USUALLY RESERVED FOR EXTREMIST GROUPS, HOSTILE GOVERNMENTS.

IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO GET BANK ACCOUNTS, YOU CANNOT TRAVEL TO THE U.S., AND IT CREATES PROBLEMS.

KIRA: GROUND ZERO OF THE SANCTIONS IMPACT IS THE OFFICE OF THE PROSECUTOR.

MICROSOFT CUT OFF THE CHIEF PROSECUTOR'S EMAIL, LIKELY FEARING FINES.

HIS BANK ACCOUNTS WERE ALSO FROZEN.

CASES ARE NOW CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE AS STAFFERS GRAPPLE TO WORK AROUND THE SANCTIONS.

>> IT DOES PROVIDE MATERIAL SUPPORT WHICH INCLUDES DOING RESEARCH FOR LEGAL BRIEFS HE IS GOING TO SIGN OFF ON, AND GIVE HIM IDEAS FOR AN INVESTIGATION YOU'RE WORKING ON.

BECAUSE SO MUCH OF THIS HAS NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF HOW THE SECONDARY SANCTIONS WILL BE PURSUED BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

KIRA: MATTHEW SMITH WAS ABOUT TO BRING NEW EVIDENCE TO THE ICC WHEN THE SANCTIONS HIT.

>> WE HAVE COME INTO CONTACT WITH SOMEBODY WHO WAS IN THE MYANMAR MILITARY, WHO HAS SINCE DEFECTED, WHO WAS ON THE GROUND DURING THESE GENOCIDAL ATTACKS IN 2017.

WE ARE TAKING THAT EVIDENCE, SHARING IT ONWARD.

IF WE CAN'T DO THAT, IF WE CAN'T SPEAK FREELY, WE CAN'T DO ANY OF OUR WORK.

KIRA: SMITH FILED A FEDERAL LAWSUIT IN HIS HOME STATE OF MAINE ALONG WITH THE HELP OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION.

HE CLAIMS THE SANCTIONS ARE A VIOLATION OF HIS FIRST MINUTE RIGHTS AND PUT HIM AT RISK.

>> I FACE SEVERE PENALTIES FOR DOING THE WORK I DO.

THAT COULD INVOLVE UP TO A ONE MILLION-DOLLAR FINE, PRISON SENTENCES UP TO 20 YEARS.

TO SIMPLY SIT BACK AND STOP THAT WORK BECAUSE THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS WE NEED TO DO THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE.

KIRA: JOINING HIM IN THE SUIT IS A LAWYER, SHE FACILITATES GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE CHARGES AT THE ICC, AND SAYS SANCTIONS OF GROUND HER WORK TO A HALT.

>> I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH WOMEN FROM AFGHANISTAN.

THERE IS NO WOMAN'S RIGHTS CRISIS IN THE WORLD THAT LOOKS LIKE AFGHANISTAN'S RIGHT NOW.

I WAS IN THE COURT IN DECEMBER WITH A GROUP OF WOMEN SEEKING JUSTICE, AND I CAN'T WORK WITH THEM ON THAT ANYMORE.

YOU HAVE TO WONDER HOW THIS WILL NOT CAUSE PARALYSIS ACROSS THE ENTIRETY OF THE SYSTEM OF THOSE WORKING IN THE COURT.

KIRA: WITHIN THE ICC, SANCTIONS HAVE DRIVEN SOME EMPLOYEES TO QUIT, INCLUDING THE TOP INVESTIGATOR IN THE GAZA CASE.

HE HAS CHILDREN WHO LIVE IN THE U.S.. OTHERS HAVE SUED TO RECEIVE WAIVERS FROM THE TREASURY DEPARTMENT, TO BE ALLOWED TO WORK WITH SANCTIONED INDIVIDUALS, BUT ARE STILL BARRED FROM WORKING ON THE GAZA CASE.

IN A U.N.

MEETING IN JULY THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S LEGAL ADVISOR SUGGESTED BROADER SANCTIONS COULD BECOMING.

>> WE EXPECT ALL ICC ACTIONS AGAINST THE U.S.

AND OUR ALLY ISRAEL TO BE TERMINATED.

IF NOT, ALL OPTIONS REMAIN ON THE TABLE.

KIRA: THE ASSEMBLY OF MEMBER STATES OF THE ICC SAYS THE COURT ACTED WITHIN ITS LEGAL MANDATE AND CANNOT REVERSE CHARGES THAT HAVE BEEN FILED.

BUT THERE ARE MOUNTING FEARS THE COURT'S ABILITY TO FUNCTION MAY BE IN JEOPARDY.

>> IT IS HARD TO IMAGINE A WORLD WHERE WE DON'T HAVE THIS INSTITUTION, BUT I THINK WHAT CAN BE DONE -- THE U.S.

IS A LARGE, POWERFUL COUNTRY WITH A LOT OF INTERESTS.

THAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT WHEN IT IS HOSTILE TOWARD YOU.

KIRA: BACK IN UGANDA COURTS REPRESENTATIVES EXPLAINED THE 39 CHARGES AGAINST JOSEPH KONY CANNOT ADVANCE TO TRIAL UNTIL HE IS ACTUALLY FOUND.

THE PEOPLE GATHERED HERE KNOW IT COULD BE A LONG WAIT BEFORE THEIR JUSTICE IS DELIVERED, IF EVER.

STILL, THEY SEE THE ICC'S WORK ON BEHALF OF THEIR COMMUNITY AS A CRITICAL STEP FORWARD.

>> THE FACT PEOPLE ARE ADDING TO KNOW WHAT THEY WENT THROUGH, THIS IS JUSTICE.

KIRA: FOR PBS NEWS WEEKEND, I'M KIRA KAY.

♪ OHN: THAT IS PBS NEWS WEEKEND FOR THIS I'M JOHN YANG.

SATURDAY.

FOR ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

SEE YOU TOMORROW.

♪ >> THIS PROGRAM WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY CONTRIBUTIONS TO YOUR PBS STATION FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

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