Members of the International Criminal Court (ICC) have voted to remove Karim Khan as chief prosecutor over allegations of sexual misconduct. Khan, elected the ICC's third prosecutor in 2021, was suspended last month and his dismissal was passed with 82 votes in favor.
The court's oversight body found in June that Khan had committed a "serious breach of duty and serious misconduct" for allegedly engaging in an improper sexual relationship with a junior ICC staff member and attempting to prevent her from filing a complaint. Khan has repeatedly denied all allegations, and his lawyers have described his suspension as "unlawful, procedurally unfair and unsupported by evidence."
The investigation and subsequent removal process have placed the international tribunal under intense scrutiny and highlighted internal divisions. Supporters fear the court may emerge weakened and less capable of addressing global threats. The controversy unfolds as the ICC faces an unprecedented campaign to weaken its influence.
Karim Khan, a British lawyer, has been on voluntary leave to contest the allegations since May 2025. He is currently suspended from practicing law in the UK pending an inquiry by the Bar Standards Board. Khan was unable to attend the vote, held at United Nations headquarters in New York, as he is barred from entering the United States due to sanctions imposed by the Trump administration. These sanctions were a response to the ICC's investigation into alleged war crimes by Israeli officials in Gaza.
The allegations first surfaced in May 2024 when a third party reported Khan's alleged misconduct involving a female staff member. An initial investigation by the ICC's Independent Oversight Mechanism was closed after the alleged victim declined to participate, leading to criticism of mishandling the process. Investigators ultimately stated there was insufficient evidence to substantiate the claims.
A second referral in October 2024 transferred the matter to the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS), which conducted a broader investigation from November 2024 to December 2025. The OIOS findings were reviewed by a panel of three judges to determine if Khan's conduct constituted serious misconduct.
The United States has become increasingly hostile towards the ICC in recent years. In addition to the sanctions against Khan, Washington launched a campaign earlier this month aimed at dismantling the ICC, citing threats to American sovereignty. This campaign includes visa bans, asset freezes, and diplomatic pressure on allies to withdraw from the court or reject its jurisdiction over their nationals. The U.S., Russia, and Israel are not members of the ICC, but the court can assert jurisdiction over crimes committed by their nationals on the territory of member states.