ICC Ousts Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan Over Misconduct

​NEW YORK — In an unprecedented move that has sent shockwaves through the global legal community, member states of the International Criminal Court (ICC) voted overwhelmingly to dismiss Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan.

​The decisive secret ballot, held during a special session at United Nations headquarters, saw 82 of the court’s 125 member states vote to remove the 56-year-old British barrister. Assembly of States Parties President Päivi Kaukoranta confirmed that the body concluded Khan “committed serious misconduct and a serious breach of duty”.

​The vote brings a dramatic climax to a disciplinary process that began after a junior ICC staff member, publicly identified as Sarah, came forward with allegations of sexual harassment and non-consensual sexual acts. In a recent interview with CNN, Sarah described an escalation of boundary violations that left her feeling deeply humiliated under a severe power imbalance.

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​Khan has continuously denied all allegations, maintaining that his interactions were entirely consensual and that he was the victim of a smear campaign. His defense attorney, Tayab Ali, lambasted the decision, stating that it was unsupported by properly reasoned findings and that Khan was denied a fair opportunity to be heard. Ali vowed to challenge the ruling through all available legal avenues.

​The dismissal lands at a perilous crossroads for the Hague-based war crimes tribunal. Khan and various supporters previously argued that the misconduct claims were amplified or weaponized to ruin his reputation following high-profile moves to secure arrest warrants for top Israeli officials—including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—and Russian leadership.

​While Israel and the United States—neither of which are ICC member states—welcomed the outcome, legal experts and assembly leaders stressed that the decision was anchored strictly on the gravity of the internal workplace findings. Washington, which has previously levied heavy sanctions against ICC officials over investigations into Israel and US military actions, reiterated its staunch opposition to the tribunal’s jurisdiction.

​With Khan officially relieved of his duties, the court’s two deputy prosecutors will continue to manage the Office of the Prosecutor as the Assembly of States Parties prepares to launch the complex process of electing a successor. Meanwhile, officials emphasize that existing arrest warrants and ongoing judicial proceedings will remain entirely unaffected by the leadership change.