ICC Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan Removed Over Sexual Assault Allegations
On Friday, July 24, 2026, the International Criminal Court's Assembly of States Parties voted by a large majority to remove Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan from office.[1]
Assembly of States Parties President Päivi Kaukoranta said the body concluded Khan committed "serious misconduct and serious breach of duty" after finding he had a sexual relationship with a female aide.[1] The panel also found he tried to prevent the aide from pursuing allegations, a determination Khan disputes.[1] Khan had been temporarily suspended in June before the Assembly voted on his removal.[1] A motion introduced by Sierra Leone that would have made it harder to oust Khan failed earlier in the session, clearing the way for the vote.[1] Khan's removal does not immediately affect the 2024 ICC arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, which can only be withdrawn by ICC judges.[1]
Khan's temporary suspension in June followed an internal examination into the alleged conduct and led to formal proceedings in the Assembly of States Parties.[1] The ouster comes as some governments press the court.[1] Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week the United States is launching a "sweeping campaign to dismantle the threat posed by the International Criminal Court." PBS He said the campaign will pressure states to withdraw, sanction organizations that work with the court, and bar ICC staff travel to the U.S.[1]
Hours after the vote, Venezuela said it will withdraw from the ICC, citing "geographical bias" against African and Latin American countries.[1] Israel's U.N. ambassador Danny Danon welcomed the outcome and said Khan "was wrong" to think warrants against Israeli leaders would overshadow the misconduct allegations.[1] The Wall Street Journal also reported Khan's ouster.[2]
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📌 Key Facts
- On Friday, July 24, 2026, the ICC’s 125 member states voted "by a large majority" in the Assembly of States Parties to remove Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan from office, after he had been temporarily suspended in June.
- Assembly of States Parties President Päivi Kaukoranta announced the body concluded Khan committed "serious misconduct and serious breach of duty" based on a finding that he engaged in a sexual relationship with a female aide and tried to prevent her from pursuing allegations; Khan disputes the findings.
- A motion introduced by Sierra Leone that would have made it harder to oust Khan failed earlier in the July 24 session, allowing the removal vote to proceed several hours ahead of schedule.
- The piece notes that Khan’s removal does not immediately affect the 2024 ICC arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, which can only be withdrawn by ICC judges.
- The article situates the removal amid an ongoing U.S. campaign against the ICC, quoting Secretary of State Marco Rubio as saying the U.S. is launching a "sweeping campaign to dismantle the threat posed by the International Criminal Court," including pressuring states to withdraw, sanctioning organizations that work with the court, and barring ICC staff travel to the U.S.
- Hours after the July 24 vote, Venezuela announced it will withdraw from the ICC, citing "geographical bias" against African and Latin American countries; prosecutors recently dropped a sanctions-related inquiry on Venezuela but are continuing a separate probe into alleged crimes by Venezuelan security forces under former President Nicolás Maduro.
- Israel’s U.N. ambassador Danny Danon publicly welcomed the outcome, saying Khan had thought warrants against Israeli leaders would overshadow the sexual misconduct allegations and "he was wrong."
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- On Friday, July 24, 2026, the ICC’s 125 member states voted 'by a large majority' in the Assembly of States Parties to remove Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan from office, after he had been temporarily suspended in June.
- Assembly of States Parties President Päivi Kaukoranta announced that the body concluded Khan committed 'serious misconduct and serious breach of duty' based on a finding that he engaged in a sexual relationship with a female aide and tried to prevent her from pursuing allegations, which he disputes.
- A motion introduced by Sierra Leone that would have made it harder to oust Khan failed earlier in the July 24 session, allowing the removal vote to proceed several hours ahead of schedule.
- The article situates the removal amid an ongoing U.S. campaign against the ICC: Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week that the U.S. is launching a 'sweeping campaign to dismantle the threat posed by the International Criminal Court,' including pressuring states to withdraw, sanctioning organizations that work with the court, and barring ICC staff travel to the U.S.
- Hours after the July 24 vote, Venezuela announced it will withdraw from the ICC, citing 'geographical bias' against African and Latin American countries; prosecutors recently dropped a sanctions-related inquiry on Venezuela but are continuing a separate probe into alleged crimes by Venezuelan security forces under former President Nicolás Maduro.
- Israel’s U.N. ambassador Danny Danon publicly welcomed the outcome, asserting that Khan thought warrants against Israeli leaders would overshadow the sexual misconduct allegations and saying 'he was wrong.'
- The piece notes that Khan’s removal does not immediately affect the 2024 ICC arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, which can only be withdrawn by ICC judges.