Full Breakdown
ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan Dismissed Over Sexual Misconduct Allegations
7/25/2026, 12:55:22 AM
Dismissal Decision and Immediate Outcome
Member states of the International Criminal Court (ICC) voted to remove prosecutor Karim Khan after an executive-bureau investigation found he had engaged in an inappropriate sexual relationship with a junior ICC lawyer. Khan, a 56-year-old British barrister, denied any wrongdoing, and his counsel, Tayab Ali, said Khan will contest the decision through all available legal mechanisms. The dismissal triggers a new election for ICC prosecutor, which is not expected to be concluded before the following year.
Background of the Allegations
The misconduct claim emerged after diplomats overseeing the ICC’s executive bureau presented evidence of the alleged relationship to the assembly last month. The investigation, documented in files seen by Reuters, prompted the recommendation that Khan be fired. The allegations have been described by observers as “embattled and discredited,” prompting swift action from the court’s members.
Reactions from the Court and External Actors
Leila Sadat, a professor of international criminal law at Washington University, said the court’s members acted quickly to allow the ICC to continue its work on ongoing cases. The United States, which is not a party to the ICC, used the dismissal to reinforce its broader diplomatic campaign against the court. During a visit to the Philippines, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio characterized the ICC as populated by “lunatics and crazies” and reiterated that no U.S. political or military officials would face trial there. The U.S. has previously imposed sanctions on eleven ICC judges and prosecutors, citing the court’s arrest warrants against Israeli leaders and a past probe into U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
Next Steps for the ICC
Following Khan’s removal, the ICC will initiate a new election process for its prosecutor, with the expectation that a successor will be chosen after the current year. In the interim, the court’s governing body will oversee the office’s functions to maintain continuity in the investigations and prosecutions that remain on its docket.
