The International Criminal Court (ICC) has removed chief prosecutor Karim Khan after member states voted to dismiss him over findings of sexual misconduct, bringing to an end months of controversy that has shaken the world's only permanent war crimes court.
Khan, who became the ICC's third prosecutor in 2021, was removed after 82 member states voted in favour of his dismissal during a special session held at the United Nations headquarters in New York. His removal comes a month after he was suspended from office following the release of findings by the court's oversight body.
In June, the oversight body concluded that Khan had committed a "serious breach of duty and serious misconduct" by engaging in an improper sexual relationship with a junior ICC staff member and attempting to stop her from pursuing her complaint.
Khan has repeatedly denied all the allegations against him. His lawyer said he would challenge "the lawfulness and fairness of the decision through all available legal mechanisms".
It remains unclear what legal options are available to the former prosecutor following his removal.
Reacting to the outcome of the vote, the ICC acknowledged the decision taken by the Assembly of States Parties, made up of the court's 125 member states.
"The Court will continue to attach the utmost importance to maintaining a safe, inclusive, and respectful working environment for all personnel," the ICC said in a statement.
The case has gone beyond the removal of one prosecutor, placing the court under close scrutiny and raising fresh concerns about its future at a time when it is already facing growing political pressure.
The misconduct investigation has exposed internal divisions within the institution and unfolded alongside a wider campaign aimed at weakening the court. Supporters fear the ICC could emerge from the crisis less able to carry out its work of prosecuting the world's most serious crimes.
A well-known British lawyer, Khan has been on voluntary leave since May 2025 while contesting the allegations. He also remains suspended from practising law in the United Kingdom after the Bar Standards Board imposed an interim ban as it continues its own investigation.
Khan did not attend the vote in New York because he is barred from entering the United States under sanctions imposed by the Trump administration over the ICC's investigation into alleged war crimes involving Israeli officials in Gaza.
His dismissal is unlikely to bring the matter to a close, with the court expected to remain under close attention as questions continue over the handling of the case.
The allegations first emerged in May 2024 after a third party reported claims that Khan had engaged in sexual misconduct involving a female staff member.
The ICC's Independent Oversight Mechanism opened an investigation, but the case was later closed after the alleged victim declined to take part. Critics questioned how the investigation had been handled, saying it weakened confidence in the oversight process. Investigators later said there was not enough evidence to prove the allegations.
A second complaint was filed in October 2024, leading to the matter being handed to the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services. The agency carried out a wider investigation into claims of sexual misconduct and abuse of authority.
That investigation ran from November 2024 to December 2025 and produced more than 5,000 pages of evidence and witness testimony.
Its findings were later examined by a panel of three judges, who were tasked with advising whether Khan's actions amounted to serious misconduct, less serious misconduct or no misconduct.
The case unfolded during a period of growing political pressure on the ICC.
The United States imposed sanctions on Khan after he sought arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged crimes linked to the war in Gaza.
Relations between Washington and the ICC have become increasingly strained in recent years.
Earlier this month, the United States announced a new "whole-of-government" campaign to dismantle the ICC "brick by brick", describing the court as a threat to American sovereignty. The campaign includes plans for visa bans, asset freezes and diplomatic pressure on allies to leave the court or reject its authority over their nationals.
Although the United States, Russia and Israel are not members of the ICC, the court can still exercise jurisdiction over crimes allegedly committed by their nationals if those offences take place on the territory of ICC member states.