ICC Prosecutor Suspended
ICC Chief Prosecutor Suspended Over Sexual Misconduct Allegations Pending Oversight Review
Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, has been suspended from his duties after the court's governing body voted to remove him pending a final decision on sexual misconduct allegations. The 21-member Bureau of the Assembly of States Parties voted by a qualified majority late Monday to suspend Khan and recommend a finding of "serious misconduct" to the full Assembly of 125 member states, according to Reuters.
Khan, a British barrister who has led the ICC since 2021, has "steadfastly denied" all allegations. He stated: "I did not engage in any inappropriate conduct toward the complainant, whether sexual or otherwise." The suspension marks the first time in the court's history that a sitting chief prosecutor has faced removal proceedings.
A Malaysian Aide's Allegations Spanning 11 Months
The primary accuser is a Malaysian lawyer and former aide in Khan's office. She alleges a pattern of nonconsensual sexual contact across multiple countries over 11 months. During the investigation, she was reportedly placed on suicide watch, according to The Guardian. A second accuser, identified only as "Patricia," is a former unpaid intern who alleged Khan subjected her to a "constant onslaught" of unwanted advances back in 2009.
The Assembly of States Parties commissioned an external probe by the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services after the allegations first surfaced publicly in October 2024. That UN investigation found evidence of nonconsensual sexual contact with the aide. However, a three-judge panel reviewing the findings concluded in March 2026 that the evidence did not meet the legal threshold of "beyond reasonable doubt" to establish misconduct.
Bureau Overrides Judges to Push Suspension Through
The Bureau's decision to disregard the judicial panel's conclusion is drawing sharp criticism. Legal analysts note a key distinction: the "beyond reasonable doubt" standard is used in criminal trials, not workplace disciplinary cases. The three-judge panel reviewed more than 5,000 pages of evidence before submitting its 85-page confidential report on March 9, 2026. Critics say applying a criminal standard to an employment matter set the bar too high.
Civil society groups including Human Rights Watch called for full accountability, arguing that workplace abuse standards must hold regardless of a prosecutor's professional record. But Khan's legal team framed the Bureau's vote as a political act. Removing Khan from office entirely would require a simple majority — at least 63 of 125 member states — voting yes in a secret ballot of the full Assembly.
Geopolitics Casts a Long Shadow Over the Case
The timing of the allegations has fueled intense speculation. They first became public in October 2024, just as Khan was finalizing arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes in Gaza. Khan's supporters have alleged a "honey trap" operation designed to derail the Gaza investigation. The Guardian reported that a London-based private intelligence firm called Highgate, allegedly hired by Qatari interests, worked to link the complainant to Israeli intelligence to undermine her credibility.
The Trump administration added another layer in February 2025, imposing financial and visa sanctions on Khan and other ICC officials in retaliation for the Israel-Palestine probe. Critics of Khan argue he used the high-profile warrants as a "shield" to deflect from the misconduct investigation. The ICC is now run by Khan's deputies, creating what analysts call a "leadership vacuum" during active cases in Sudan, Ukraine, and Gaza, according to AP News.
What Comes Next for the ICC and Its Cases
The Assembly of States Parties will hold a special session to decide if Khan can keep his job. If removed, the ICC might owe Khan up to €1.5 million in compensation if a court later finds the removal was wrongful, according to former International Court of Justice judge Abdul Koroma, as reported by Middle East Eye. Khan has already been barred from pleading in the case against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.
Legal experts warn the Bureau's decision to override a judicial panel sets a dangerous precedent. If member states can remove a prosecutor by majority vote — against the advice of judges — future prosecutors may become vulnerable to political pressure. The case puts the ICC's credibility on trial at exactly the moment it is pursuing its most high-profile prosecutions in the court's 20-year history.
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