Karim Khan removed as ICC prosecutor over sexual misconduct allegations

Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, has been removed from his position following a vote by member states over sexual misconduct allegations. This marks the first time in the court's history that a sitting prosecutor has been dismissed.
Why it matters
The removal of the prosecutor overseeing high-profile war crimes cases against international leaders has significant geopolitical implications.
The International Criminal Court prosecutor whose arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu became central to New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s threat to arrest the Israeli leader was dismissed Friday after member states voted to remove him over sexual misconduct allegations. Karim Khan, the ICC’s chief prosecutor, was removed after a vote by the Assembly of States Parties, the court’s 125-member governing body, following disciplinary proceedings tied to allegations involving a junior female staffer in his office. Khan has denied wrongdoing. The decision marked the first time in the ICC’s history that a sitting chief prosecutor has been removed from office. Khan’s removal comes days after Secretary of State Marco Rubio launched a U.S. campaign to "dismantle" the ICC, accusing the court of threatening American sovereignty.
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