ICC chief prosecutor removed over sexual misconduct allegations

Key Points:

• Karim Khan, chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), was removed from office by a large majority of the court’s 125 member states due to “serious misconduct and serious breach of duty” related to sexual misconduct allegations.
• Khan was accused of a sexual relationship with a female aide and attempting to prevent her from pursuing allegations; he denies the claims and his legal team criticized the removal process as unfair and plans to challenge the decision legally.
• The ICC faces intense external pressure, including a U.S. campaign led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio to dismantle the court, with sanctions and travel bans imposed on ICC staff, including Khan, due to investigations involving U.S. and Israeli officials.
• Venezuela announced its withdrawal from the ICC, citing perceived geographical bias and disproportionate focus on African and Latin American countries, while investigations into alleged crimes by Venezuelan security forces will continue.
• Despite Khan’s removal, existing ICC arrest warrants for Israeli officials related to the Gaza conflict remain in effect and can only be withdrawn by ICC judges, as political tensions continue to impact the court’s work.