The Assembly of States Parties, the oversight body of the International Criminal Court (ICC), voted Friday to remove Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan from office. The decision followed an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct involving a female staff member. Päivi Kaukoranta, president of the oversight body, stated that the assembly concluded Khan had committed "serious misconduct and serious breach of duty." Khan has denied the allegations.
The vote marks the first time a chief prosecutor has been removed in the court's history. Khan had been temporarily suspended from his duties in June after an executive committee report alleged he engaged in an improper relationship and attempted to dissuade the individual from reporting it. A motion introduced by Sierra Leone to raise the threshold for removal failed prior to the final vote.
The removal occurs amid criticism of the ICC from several nations. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently announced a campaign to limit the court's influence, citing concerns over U.S. sovereignty. Following the vote, Venezuela announced its withdrawal from the court, with Foreign Affairs Minister Félix Plasencia alleging geographical bias against countries in the Global South.
The Israeli government, which faces ICC arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, welcomed the removal. Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon characterized the prosecutor's previous actions as politically motivated. Legal experts noted that Khan's removal does not automatically vacate existing arrest warrants, as those remain under the jurisdiction of ICC judges.