Adam Keith
@adamofkeith.bsky.social
Director, Accountability at Human Rights First. Former career State Dept/NSC, Princeton SPIA, Rice University. Human rights, intl justice, foreign policy. Views mine alone.
Reposted by Adam Keith
When the winner of the Nobel peace prize smuggled herself over the water and out of Venezuela to attend the ceremony in Oslo this week, her allies called the Pentagon to ask them not to arbitrarily murder her. www.wsj.com/world/americ...
December 11, 2025 at 2:01 PM
When the winner of the Nobel peace prize smuggled herself over the water and out of Venezuela to attend the ceremony in Oslo this week, her allies called the Pentagon to ask them not to arbitrarily murder her. www.wsj.com/world/americ...
Reposted by Adam Keith
Our Substack is now LIVE! Human Rights First's CEO @uzraz.bsky.social launches our substack with a piece arguing that human rights can’t be limited to vague “natural rights” ideas. Universal rights, grounded in law, protect everyone and are essential for U.S. credibility at home and abroad.
Don’t Cage Human Rights Behind a “Natural Rights” Smokescreen
Uzra Zeya, President and CEO of Human Rights First; Former Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights
humanrights1st.substack.com
December 10, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Our Substack is now LIVE! Human Rights First's CEO @uzraz.bsky.social launches our substack with a piece arguing that human rights can’t be limited to vague “natural rights” ideas. Universal rights, grounded in law, protect everyone and are essential for U.S. credibility at home and abroad.
Reposted by Adam Keith
Also, this is an invitation to international criminals, just like these kinds of program are everywhere else
An insane political move. One of the recurring complaints about immigration in the U.S. is that those seeking asylum jump the line. This is line-jumping — but for rich people, not those in need.
December 11, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Also, this is an invitation to international criminals, just like these kinds of program are everywhere else
Reposted by Adam Keith
The Trump administration that deported these Russians is the same government that this February condemned Thailand's forcible return of 40+ Uyghurs to China, where they would face the risk of "persecution, forced labor, and torture."
December 10, 2025 at 4:53 PM
The Trump administration that deported these Russians is the same government that this February condemned Thailand's forcible return of 40+ Uyghurs to China, where they would face the risk of "persecution, forced labor, and torture."
Reposted by Adam Keith
To be a lawyer who is suggesting sending non-Salvadorans to CECOT at a time when the torture occurring there is so well-documented you have to be willfully blind not to know about is to be a lawyer suggesting the United States can send people to torture, and that is to suggest breaking the law.
December 10, 2025 at 3:15 AM
To be a lawyer who is suggesting sending non-Salvadorans to CECOT at a time when the torture occurring there is so well-documented you have to be willfully blind not to know about is to be a lawyer suggesting the United States can send people to torture, and that is to suggest breaking the law.
Reposted by Adam Keith
🚫 Today is #AntiCorruptionDay and we observe today by recognizing the brave work of Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu – a renowned Azerbaijani scholar of political economy and anti-corruption activist.
📢 We renew our call for Dr. Ibadoghlu’s immediate and unconditional release.
#FreeGubad
📢 We renew our call for Dr. Ibadoghlu’s immediate and unconditional release.
#FreeGubad
December 9, 2025 at 7:15 PM
🚫 Today is #AntiCorruptionDay and we observe today by recognizing the brave work of Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu – a renowned Azerbaijani scholar of political economy and anti-corruption activist.
📢 We renew our call for Dr. Ibadoghlu’s immediate and unconditional release.
#FreeGubad
📢 We renew our call for Dr. Ibadoghlu’s immediate and unconditional release.
#FreeGubad
Can an administration whose foreign policy can only barely be described as anti-corruption pronounce on the anti-corruption work of other governments?
New article today in @justsecurity.org with Sky Miller on making the most of a congressional reporting mandate coming due at a less than ideal time.
New article today in @justsecurity.org with Sky Miller on making the most of a congressional reporting mandate coming due at a less than ideal time.
Promises and Pitfalls of the “U.S. Combating Global Corruption Act
The Combating Global Corruption Act presents an imperfect but useful opportunity to rebuild the U.S. government's anti-corruption practices.
www.justsecurity.org
December 9, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Can an administration whose foreign policy can only barely be described as anti-corruption pronounce on the anti-corruption work of other governments?
New article today in @justsecurity.org with Sky Miller on making the most of a congressional reporting mandate coming due at a less than ideal time.
New article today in @justsecurity.org with Sky Miller on making the most of a congressional reporting mandate coming due at a less than ideal time.
Reposted by Adam Keith
Important breakdown by Sky Miller and @adamofkeith.bsky.social of what Congress and others should look for in the forthcoming and first-ever Combating Global Corruption Act report 👇
Can the United States credibly assess foreign anti-corruption efforts as its own safeguards erode?
Sky Miller and Adam Keith outline what Congress and stakeholders should scrutinize in the first-ever Combating Global Corruption Act report.
www.justsecurity.org/126467/globa...
Sky Miller and Adam Keith outline what Congress and stakeholders should scrutinize in the first-ever Combating Global Corruption Act report.
www.justsecurity.org/126467/globa...
Promises and Pitfalls of the “U.S. Combating Global Corruption Act
The Combating Global Corruption Act presents an imperfect but useful opportunity to rebuild the U.S. government's anti-corruption practices.
www.justsecurity.org
December 9, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Important breakdown by Sky Miller and @adamofkeith.bsky.social of what Congress and others should look for in the forthcoming and first-ever Combating Global Corruption Act report 👇
Reposted by Adam Keith
Hopefully the butchers of El Fasher see this:
#ICC judges have sentenced former Sudanese militia leader Ali Muhammad Ali Abd al-Rahman, known as Ali Kushayb, to a sentence of 20 years for crimes against humanity & war crimes committed in Darfur in 2003-2004. www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-ea...
#ICC judges have sentenced former Sudanese militia leader Ali Muhammad Ali Abd al-Rahman, known as Ali Kushayb, to a sentence of 20 years for crimes against humanity & war crimes committed in Darfur in 2003-2004. www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-ea...
ICC sentences Sudanese ex-militia leader ‘Ali Kushayb’ to 20 years in prison
Time that Abd al-Rahman spent in detention since June 2020 to be deducted from sentence - Anadolu Ajansı
www.aa.com.tr
December 9, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Hopefully the butchers of El Fasher see this:
#ICC judges have sentenced former Sudanese militia leader Ali Muhammad Ali Abd al-Rahman, known as Ali Kushayb, to a sentence of 20 years for crimes against humanity & war crimes committed in Darfur in 2003-2004. www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-ea...
#ICC judges have sentenced former Sudanese militia leader Ali Muhammad Ali Abd al-Rahman, known as Ali Kushayb, to a sentence of 20 years for crimes against humanity & war crimes committed in Darfur in 2003-2004. www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-ea...
Reposted by Adam Keith
We reiterate that the detention of Ruth López is unjust and disproportionate, and violates international human rights standards as well as our own legal frameworks.
We will continue supporting all efforts to ensure her freedom and her right to a fair trial
#FreeRuth #HaveDecency #RuthBloomsInFreedom
We will continue supporting all efforts to ensure her freedom and her right to a fair trial
#FreeRuth #HaveDecency #RuthBloomsInFreedom
December 6, 2025 at 1:24 AM
We reiterate that the detention of Ruth López is unjust and disproportionate, and violates international human rights standards as well as our own legal frameworks.
We will continue supporting all efforts to ensure her freedom and her right to a fair trial
#FreeRuth #HaveDecency #RuthBloomsInFreedom
We will continue supporting all efforts to ensure her freedom and her right to a fair trial
#FreeRuth #HaveDecency #RuthBloomsInFreedom
Reposted by Adam Keith
the elevation of “separation of powers” as the paramount value of the constitution is just rhetorical justification for presidential dictatorship, since that is what you have when the legislative branch cannot constrain the exercise of executive power through law.
In her dissent, Judge Pan says the emerging view of executive power by Trump and his backers in the courts "concentrates excessive power in the President and thus paves the way to autocracy." storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
December 5, 2025 at 5:10 PM
the elevation of “separation of powers” as the paramount value of the constitution is just rhetorical justification for presidential dictatorship, since that is what you have when the legislative branch cannot constrain the exercise of executive power through law.
Important statement from 12 Ukrainian civil society groups at this week's meeting of the ICC Assembly of States Parties. Calls for states to uphold "the ICC's critical role in Ukraine and beyond" in the face of U.S. sanctions, non-cooperation, and other threats.
Joint statement at the General Debate of the ASP of the ICC: the Court’s critical role in Ukraine and beyond | ZMINA Human Rights Center
In 2025, attacks, political pressure, and challenges faced by the International Criminal Court (ICC) have reached an unprecedented level. Beyond institutional limitations, budgetary constraints, and a...
zmina.ua
December 4, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Important statement from 12 Ukrainian civil society groups at this week's meeting of the ICC Assembly of States Parties. Calls for states to uphold "the ICC's critical role in Ukraine and beyond" in the face of U.S. sanctions, non-cooperation, and other threats.
Reposted by Adam Keith
8/ A public service reminder:
This entire exercise is an absurd, imaginary world for legal experts.
That's because the truth is:
It's not an armed conflict.
The laws of war thus don't apply.
The more restrictive rules of human rights apply.
It's extrajudicial killing under that law.
This entire exercise is an absurd, imaginary world for legal experts.
That's because the truth is:
It's not an armed conflict.
The laws of war thus don't apply.
The more restrictive rules of human rights apply.
It's extrajudicial killing under that law.
December 4, 2025 at 2:34 AM
8/ A public service reminder:
This entire exercise is an absurd, imaginary world for legal experts.
That's because the truth is:
It's not an armed conflict.
The laws of war thus don't apply.
The more restrictive rules of human rights apply.
It's extrajudicial killing under that law.
This entire exercise is an absurd, imaginary world for legal experts.
That's because the truth is:
It's not an armed conflict.
The laws of war thus don't apply.
The more restrictive rules of human rights apply.
It's extrajudicial killing under that law.
Reposted by Adam Keith
What if, instead of policies for countering foreign interference, we had policies inviting it?
Dictators around the world are celebrating today.
Trump just pardoned Henry Cuellar, the first member of Congress ever charged with acting as a foreign agent for a dictatorship, caught dead to rights working for Azerbaijan.
www.politico.com/live-updates...
Trump just pardoned Henry Cuellar, the first member of Congress ever charged with acting as a foreign agent for a dictatorship, caught dead to rights working for Azerbaijan.
www.politico.com/live-updates...
Trump pardons Texas Democrat Henry Cuellar
Cuellar and his wife were charged in 2024 with accepting $600,000 in bribes from foreign entities.
www.politico.com
December 3, 2025 at 4:56 PM
What if, instead of policies for countering foreign interference, we had policies inviting it?
Reposted by Adam Keith
Grand corruption as policy
Trump announces a pardon of Henry Cuellar: "I am hereby announcing my full and unconditional PARDON of beloved Texas Congressman Henry Cuellar, and Imelda. Henry, I don’t know you, but you can sleep well tonight — Your nightmare is finally over!"
December 3, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Grand corruption as policy
Reposted by Adam Keith
The initial appearance for Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri is scheduled for tomorrow at 13:30.
December 2, 2025 at 12:50 PM
The initial appearance for Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri is scheduled for tomorrow at 13:30.
Reposted by Adam Keith
Reposted by Adam Keith
Coercive measures are affecting the lives, security, and physical safety of the Court officials. States parties should protect the staff. The Court will not accept intimidation and pressure. It will continue to carry out its mandate and uphold the values of the Statute. #ASP24
December 1, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Coercive measures are affecting the lives, security, and physical safety of the Court officials. States parties should protect the staff. The Court will not accept intimidation and pressure. It will continue to carry out its mandate and uphold the values of the Statute. #ASP24
Reposted by Adam Keith
‼️#ASP24 starts today! #ICC Member countries should use their annual meeting:
➡️Defend the ICC and those cooperating with it, including within civil society
➡️Robustly enforce findings of non-cooperation
➡️Provide the court with the resources it needs
New from @hrw.org 👇
www.hrw.org/news/2025/12...
➡️Defend the ICC and those cooperating with it, including within civil society
➡️Robustly enforce findings of non-cooperation
➡️Provide the court with the resources it needs
New from @hrw.org 👇
www.hrw.org/news/2025/12...
December 1, 2025 at 6:28 AM
‼️#ASP24 starts today! #ICC Member countries should use their annual meeting:
➡️Defend the ICC and those cooperating with it, including within civil society
➡️Robustly enforce findings of non-cooperation
➡️Provide the court with the resources it needs
New from @hrw.org 👇
www.hrw.org/news/2025/12...
➡️Defend the ICC and those cooperating with it, including within civil society
➡️Robustly enforce findings of non-cooperation
➡️Provide the court with the resources it needs
New from @hrw.org 👇
www.hrw.org/news/2025/12...
Reposted by Adam Keith
One obvious function of any such congressional oversight is to identify all the U.S. officials and personnel involved in the killing spree at sea.
Senate Armed Services Committee responds to news stories about the alleged double tap strike:
November 29, 2025 at 6:12 PM
One obvious function of any such congressional oversight is to identify all the U.S. officials and personnel involved in the killing spree at sea.
Reposted by Adam Keith
It is a particular challenge for this SecDef to convincingly argue these operations are lawful given his own history of war crimes appreciation and denigration of military lawyers.
a lot of words, none of them denying that Hegseth gave an order to kill helpless people who were stranded at sea after he blew up their boats
November 29, 2025 at 1:20 AM
It is a particular challenge for this SecDef to convincingly argue these operations are lawful given his own history of war crimes appreciation and denigration of military lawyers.
Reposted by Adam Keith
lawlessness is the signature feature of the trump regime. the supreme court is useless as a brake and it will only get worse in the coming year(s) unless congress stops acquiescing in it.
November 29, 2025 at 12:04 AM
lawlessness is the signature feature of the trump regime. the supreme court is useless as a brake and it will only get worse in the coming year(s) unless congress stops acquiescing in it.
Reposted by Adam Keith
If they ever get around to building this thing, it should be bulldozed on Day 1 of a new administration. No messing around, no hemming and hawing about procedure or costs. Order heavy equipment in and start knocking it down immediately, as surely as an overthrown tyrant's statues would be torn down.
Even the architect Trump hired to build his massive addition to the White House objects to the president's vision. The two have argued about the size of the 90,000-sq-foot project that would dwarf the mansion. @jonathanreports.bsky.social @ddiamond.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Trump wants a bigger White House ballroom. His architect disagrees.
The president and James McCrery had argued in recent weeks over the project’s size, with Trump pushing him to expand the ballroom.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 28, 2025 at 8:56 PM
If they ever get around to building this thing, it should be bulldozed on Day 1 of a new administration. No messing around, no hemming and hawing about procedure or costs. Order heavy equipment in and start knocking it down immediately, as surely as an overthrown tyrant's statues would be torn down.
Reposted by Adam Keith
Textbook war crime/extrajudicial killing
"Two survivors were clinging to the smoldering wreck. The Special Operations commander overseeing the Sept. 2 attack ... ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions."
Report by @alexhorton.bsky.social @ellenwapo.bsky.social o.bsky.social
"Two survivors were clinging to the smoldering wreck. The Special Operations commander overseeing the Sept. 2 attack ... ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions."
Report by @alexhorton.bsky.social @ellenwapo.bsky.social o.bsky.social
Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill all crew members in the Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug boat. Navy SEALs fired a second missile.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 28, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Textbook war crime/extrajudicial killing
"Two survivors were clinging to the smoldering wreck. The Special Operations commander overseeing the Sept. 2 attack ... ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions."
Report by @alexhorton.bsky.social @ellenwapo.bsky.social o.bsky.social
"Two survivors were clinging to the smoldering wreck. The Special Operations commander overseeing the Sept. 2 attack ... ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions."
Report by @alexhorton.bsky.social @ellenwapo.bsky.social o.bsky.social
Reposted by Adam Keith
The Trump admin will tear down the entire human rights system--and treat the most respected jurists like terrorists--to protect Israel's leaders from accountability for what essentially the whole world recognizes to be terrible crimes. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
November 26, 2025 at 1:04 PM
The Trump admin will tear down the entire human rights system--and treat the most respected jurists like terrorists--to protect Israel's leaders from accountability for what essentially the whole world recognizes to be terrible crimes. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...