The International Criminal Court has scheduled a vote for July 24 on whether to remove chief prosecutor Karim Khan from office, according to reports citing diplomats and documents. Khan faces allegations of serious misconduct, including non-consensual sexual interactions, which he denies.
The potential removal of the ICC's chief prosecutor raises questions about the court's leadership and its ability to conduct investigations impartially amidst political pressures and internal scrutiny.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has scheduled a vote for July 24 to decide on the removal of its chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal, which cited diplomats and documents. Khan is facing allegations of serious misconduct, including non-consensual sexual interactions with a lawyer in his office, stemming from an 18-month investigation. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
The court's executive bureau had previously ruled that Khan committed serious misconduct. This ruling has led to the referral of the matter to the ICC's 125 member states, who will cast votes on Khan's future. Khan has been on voluntary leave since May 2025 to contest the allegations, which his lawyers have described as unlawful and unsupported by evidence.
The controversy has placed the ICC under intense scrutiny, particularly as it coincides with wider political tensions surrounding the court. The United States had previously imposed sanctions on Khan after he sought arrest warrants for Israeli officials. If the member states vote to remove Khan, he could challenge the decision before the Administrative Tribunal of the International Labour Organization, potentially leading to a lengthy legal process.