The British legal watchdog has upheld the suspension of International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan following allegations of sexual misconduct. The decision by the British Standards Board means Khan, 56, is currently banned from practicing law in his home country.
Khan faces allegations of sexual misconduct with a female aide, a scandal that has been ongoing for over two years. He has denied any wrongdoing.
The British Standards Board initially suspended Khan in June, a measure taken in "very serious and urgent cases" according to the regulator, after a complaint was filed. Following a hearing, the bar association confirmed the suspension while disciplinary proceedings continue.
This development comes shortly after the executive committee of the ICC's oversight body concluded that Khan had committed serious misconduct and recommended his removal from office. A final decision rests with the Assembly of States Parties, the ICC's governing body, which is scheduled to hold a special session on July 24 at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
The allegations against Khan first came to light more than two years ago when they were reported to the court's independent watchdog. An investigation revealed that Khan allegedly moved a woman from another ICC department into his office, after which she became a regular presence on official trips, according to whistleblower documents. The documents cite alleged nonconsensual behavior, including an incident on a foreign trip where Khan reportedly asked the woman to share his hotel bed and then "sexually touched her." Other alleged incidents involved locking his office door and placing his hand in her pocket, as well as repeatedly asking her to accompany him on vacation.
The controversy surrounding Khan's position occurs as the ICC faces scrutiny from the U.S. administration. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Tuesday that the United States is initiating a "sweeping campaign to dismantle the threat posed by the International Criminal Court to U.S. sovereignty."