Dick Cheney and International Law

No, Dick Cheney has never had an international arrest warrant issued against him by a major international court like the International Criminal Court (ICC).

However, the situation is more nuanced. There have been high-profile attempts by private groups and lawyers to have warrants issued against him, which brings him into the discussion of international warrants.

1. The ICC and the "Court of Last Resort"

The most credible path for an international warrant would be through the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague. The ICC can prosecute individuals for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.

The Situation: In 2006, the ICC Prosecutor received communications alleging that US officials, including Dick Cheney, had committed war crimes in connection with the Iraq War and the program of "enhanced interrogation techniques" (which many consider torture).

The Outcome: The then-Prosecutor, Luis Moreno Ocampo, decided not to open a formal investigation. His stated reason was that the ICC's jurisdiction is complementary, meaning it only acts when a country is unwilling or unable to genuinely prosecute the crimes itself. The Prosecutor noted that the U.S. had its own legal system and was conducting its own investigations and court-martials related to detainee abuse. Therefore, the ICC lacked jurisdiction to proceed.

Conclusion: The ICC, the primary body for issuing international warrants for such crimes, never formally investigated Cheney to the point of seeking a warrant.

2. Private Prosecution Efforts and "Universal Jurisdiction"

This is where the idea of an "international warrant" for Dick Cheney primarily comes from. Activists and lawyers have tried to use the legal principle of "universal jurisdiction" in various countries. This principle allows a national court to prosecute individuals for serious international crimes, even if the crimes were committed elsewhere and the accused is not a national of that country.

The most famous case was in France:

The 2008 French Case: In 2008, a French judge issued a formal request for Dick Cheney to be detained for questioning when he was scheduled to visit the French resort town of Courchevel.

The Allegations: The case was brought by the French-based International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR). It alleged Cheney's involvement in "authorizing and justifying torture" as part of the CIA's secret prison program.

The Outcome: This was not an international arrest warrant. It was a mandat d'amener, a legal request to bring someone in for questioning. The French government, which was improving relations with the U.S., intervened. The public prosecutor's office blocked the request, stating that diplomatic immunity for a visiting former head of state or government (Cheney was traveling on a diplomatic passport) applied. Cheney cut his trip short and left France without being detained or questioned.

Similar legal complaints were filed in other countries, including Spain and Germany, but none resulted in a formal, actionable arrest warrant that led to legal proceedings.

Summary

No ICC Warrant: The International Criminal Court never issued a warrant for Dick Cheney, as its prosecutor declined to open a formal investigation.

No Successful National Warrant: While private groups attempted to use national courts in France, Spain, and Germany to target him under universal jurisdiction, these efforts were consistently blocked by governments for diplomatic and political reasons. The 2008 French case came the closest to causing a legal incident, but it was quashed before it could become a real warrant.

So, while the idea of an international warrant for Dick Cheney is a persistent one due to the controversial nature of the Iraq War and interrogation policies, no such warrant was ever successfully issued or enforced by a recognized international or national judicial authority.