ICC chief prosecutor removed from post over sexual misconduct allegations

The International Criminal Court has officially removed its chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, from office. Member states voted to oust the British barrister on Friday following allegations of sexual misconduct that first appeared nearly two years ago. The assembly of member states declared that the removal was due to serious misconduct and a breach of duty.

This decision arrives during a difficult period for the court. The institution is currently contending with significant pressure from the United States, including a public campaign to restrict the court's influence. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently signaled a move to pressure member states to withdraw their support, while the U.S. has already implemented financial penalties and travel bans against several members of the court staff.

The allegations against Khan involved a sexual relationship with a female aide and claims that he attempted to prevent her from filing a complaint. His legal team has disputed the fairness of the removal process, arguing that Khan was denied an opportunity to address the assembly and that the proceedings disregarded conclusions from independent judges.

Following the vote, Venezuela announced its intent to withdraw from the court, citing what it described as a geographical bias in the institution's work. Despite the leadership change, officials confirmed that the arrest warrants previously issued for senior Israeli figures remain in place, as those can only be rescinded by ICC judges. The oversight body must now begin the process of selecting a new prosecutor to lead the tribunal.