ICC Chief Prosecutor Khan to take leave amid sexual misconduct probe
Karim Khan will temporarily step down from his role as the chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Court (ICC) as the investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against him draws to a close, sources told Reuters. The ICC is expected to organize a press conference about the matter later on Friday afternoon.
Rumors surfaced in 2024 that one of Khan’s direct colleagues alleged transgressive behavior during a one-year period starting in the Spring of 2023. Located in The Hague, the ICC confirmed it commissioned an independent investigation into Khan’s conduct in November amid talk of an internal memo asking him to go on leave while the matter was reviewed.
Khan requested the independent probe to maintain credibility and continue in his role. The scandal emerged around the same time the ICC issued warrants against senior Hamas and Israeli leaders, including Benjamin Netanyahu, regarding allegations of war crimes.
He was heavily criticized by Israel and their allies for claims of bias. Similarly, he has been the subject of sharp accusations by the Taliban, which accused his pursuit of crimes by the group as being politically motivated.
His office is currently pursuing a case against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte for crimes against humanity during his aggressive tactics in the war on drugs during his terms as Davao City mayor and president. Khan has also been targeted with a threat of arrest by Russian authorities after the ICC accused President Vladimir Putin and senior Russian leaders of war crimes in Ukraine.
The British attorney was elected to take over for Fatou Bensouda, and formally began his nine-year term in June 2021. The 55-year-old is the third chief prosecutor since the ICC was formed in 2002. In his four years on the job, Khan has also pressed for further investigations in Afghanistan and Darfur, Sudan.
