The International Criminal Court (ICC) has voted to remove its chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, following allegations of sexual misconduct and serious breaches of duty. The decision by the court's oversight body, the Assembly of States Parties, saw 82 votes in favor of Khan's removal. Khan, who was elected as the ICC's third prosecutor in 2021, had been suspended in June amid claims involving a female aide.
Päivi Kaukoranta, president of the Assembly of States Parties, stated that the body concluded Khan had committed "serious misconduct and serious breach of duty." According to documents, Khan allegedly engaged in a sexual relationship with the woman and attempted to prevent her from pursuing her allegations. Khan, 56, has denied all claims against him.
The allegations have become intertwined with the court's ongoing investigations and proceedings. Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, suggested that Khan's actions were politically motivated, stating, "Karim Khan believed that by launching a political witch hunt against Israel and issuing a politically motivated arrest warrant against Prime Minister Netanyahu, the world would ignore the grave sexual misconduct allegations against him. He was wrong."
Experts noted that political considerations may have influenced the process, particularly as this is reportedly the first time a prosecutor has pursued warrants against a Western ally. However, Khan's removal is not expected to immediately impact the arrest warrants issued in 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, which can only be withdrawn by ICC judges.
Khan's legal team described his suspension as "unlawful, procedurally unfair and unsupported by evidence." Earlier this month, Britain's legal watchdog upheld a suspension for Khan over the allegations, banning him from practicing law in the UK. The UK's Bar Standards Board had initially suspended Khan in June, a measure taken in "very serious and urgent cases" following a complaint.
Last week, two women who claim to be victims of Khan's alleged misconduct spoke publicly. An ICC employee, identified only as Sarah, told CNN that Khan's behavior was an "escalation of attempts" and described him encroaching on boundaries both physically and emotionally. Sarah alleged that during an official visit to Colombia, Khan entered her hotel room and touched her intimately while she was pretending to be asleep, stating, "There is no way for something to be consensual when you have such a power disparity."
A second woman, who used the pseudonym Patricia and had worked for Khan earlier in his career, also spoke to CNN. She alleged that while working as an intern in 2009, she experienced a "constant onslaught" of unwanted advances from Khan, including groping, grabbing, and attempts to engage in intimate activity.
The process of Khan's removal has occurred at a time when the ICC faces significant challenges, including opposition from the United States. The Trump administration previously imposed sanctions on Khan and other ICC staff in retaliation for warrants issued for top Israeli officials and investigations into U.S. personnel in Afghanistan.