Overview

• Karim Khan, chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, has taken administrative leave pending the outcome of a sexual misconduct investigation.
• The allegations, made by a former assistant, include claims of coerced sexual intercourse and pressure to withdraw accusations, which Khan denies.
• The ICC’s internal oversight body initiated the investigation in November 2024, with additional corroboration from an Associated Press report in May 2025.
• Deputy prosecutors will manage the Office of the Prosecutor during Khan's absence, as he maintains his innocence and alleges a smear campaign against him.
• The scandal coincides with Khan's controversial pursuit of arrest warrants against Israeli and Hamas leaders for alleged war crimes.