Full Breakdown
ICC Removes Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan Over Sexual-Misconduct Allegations
7/26/2026, 9:02:48 PM
Core Event: Member-State Vote Dismisses Khan
On July 24 2026, the Assembly of States Parties (ASP) – the 125-member governing body of the International Criminal Court (ICC) – held a secret ballot at the United Nations headquarters in New York. 13 states voted against the removal and 15 abstained. Khan, barred from entering the United States under sanctions, was absent. The decision takes immediate effect and triggers the election of a new prosecutor, expected to conclude next year.
Background & Context
Khan, a British barrister, was elected ICC prosecutor in February 2021 for a nine-year term. Allegations of sexual misconduct first surfaced in May 2024 when a junior staff member reported a coercive relationship and an attempt to block her complaint. The ICC’s Independent Oversight Mechanism opened an investigation but closed it after the complainant declined to participate. A second referral in October 2024 sent the case to the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS). The OIOS inquiry (Nov 2024 – Dec 2025) produced more than 5,000 pages of evidence. A three-judge panel reviewed the findings and, on March 9 2026, unanimously concluded that the evidence did not establish misconduct under the applicable legal framework.
The disciplinary process unfolded amid political pressure on the ICC. In May 2024, Khan’s office sought arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, and senior Hamas leaders for alleged war crimes linked to the October 7 2023 attacks. The United States, not a party to the Rome Statute, responded with sanctions on Khan and other ICC officials.
Data & Statistics
- Vote tally: 82 for removal, 13 against, 15 abstentions.
- Investigation volume: OIOS report – >5,000 pages; panel review – 150-page report (Dec 11 2024).
- Timeline highlights:
- 2 May 2024 – allegations disclosed.
- June 2026 – Khan suspended.
- 24 July 2026 – ASP vote removes Khan.
Official Statements & Responses
Human Rights Watch’s international justice director Liz Evenson called on the court to uphold the highest standards of workplace safety and accountability.
Criticism & Opposition
More than 180 NGOs and senior international lawyers raised due-process concerns, arguing that the ASP’s decision ignored the panel’s finding that the evidence did not meet the “beyond reasonable doubt” threshold. Legal scholar Leila Sadat (Washington University) praised the removal as a step toward restoring credibility but warned the court must now rebuild confidence under intense geopolitical pressure.
On-the-Ground Report
She emphasized that the power imbalance made any consent impossible.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- The three-judge panel (Mar 9 2026) found the evidence did not establish misconduct.
- The ASP’s executive bureau later declared that Khan had committed “serious misconduct” and recommended removal, a conclusion not supported by the judges’ report.
Legal avenues remaining for Khan after removal have not been clarified by the court.
What’s Next
Deputy prosecutors Nazhat Shameen Khan and Mame Mandiaye Niang will continue to lead the Office of the Prosecutor while the ASP initiates a formal election for a permanent successor. All arrest warrants issued during Khan’s tenure – including those for Netanyahu, Gallant, and senior Hamas figures – remain in force, as only ICC judges can modify or withdraw them. The court’s leadership transition occurs as the United States intensifies its campaign against the ICC, raising questions about the institution’s capacity to pursue high-profile investigations amid sustained external pressure.
