ICC Removes Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan on Criminal Charges of Sexual Misconduct
THE HAGUE/NEW YORK — July 24, 2026 — The International Criminal Court’s member states have voted to remove Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan from office following allegations of sexual misconduct, marking the first time in the court’s 24-year history that a prosecutor has been dismissed under criminal charges.
The Assembly of States Parties, the ICC’s governing body of 125 member nations, voted 82-13 with 15 abstentions during an emergency session at UN headquarters in New York on Friday, July 24, 2026 . The vote comfortably exceeded the simple majority of 63 votes required for dismissal .
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The Allegations and Investigation
The case against Khan, 56, stemmed from accusations by a junior female staff member identified only as “Sarah,” a Malaysian lawyer who worked as Khan’s direct assistant . She alleged a pattern of escalating non-consensual sexual contact during official trips and at ICC premises between March 2023 and April 2024 .
The investigation unfolded over a 20-month period. The UN Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) conducted a year-long inquiry and made 137 findings, none of which concluded that Khan had committed misconduct under the applicable legal framework . An independent panel of three senior international judges reviewed the evidence and unanimously determined on March 9, 2026, that the findings did not establish misconduct .
However, the ICC’s oversight body later concluded that Khan had engaged in a sexual relationship with the complainant and that, given the inherent power imbalance, such a relationship “could never be appropriate” . The bureau found he had committed “serious breach of duty and serious misconduct” and had attempted to prevent the woman from pursuing her allegations .
Khan was suspended from his duties in June 2026, pending the final vote .
Khan’s Denial and Legal Challenge
Khan has consistently denied the allegations from the outset . His lawyers called the decision “unsupported by any lawful or properly reasoned finding” and said they would challenge it “through all available legal mechanisms” .
His legal team noted that Khan was barred from attending the New York proceedings due to US sanctions imposed on ICC personnel involved in investigations into Israeli officials, a restriction they argued violated his right to defend himself .
The Vote’s Implications
Khan, a British barrister, was elected to a nine-year term as ICC prosecutor in 2021 . He rose to international prominence in 2023 when he issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, and in 2024 when he sought warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas leaders over alleged war crimes related to the Gaza conflict .
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Despite his removal, existing ICC arrest warrants remain active and can only be withdrawn or altered by the court’s judges . The deputy prosecutors have been overseeing the Office of the Prosecutor during Khan’s absence and will continue to do so as member states begin the process of selecting a successor .
Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, welcomed the decision, stating that Khan’s “political witch hunt” against Israeli officials had failed to distract from the misconduct allegations against him . France and the Netherlands, which hosts the ICC, both publicly supported Khan’s removal .
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