ICC Chief Prosecutor Dismissed Amid Sexual Misconduct Claims

WHO:

AP - Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

AP - Liz Evenson, international justice director at Human Rights Watch.

AP - Marco Rubio, Secretary of State.

AP - Félix Plasencia, Venezuela’s foreign affairs minister.

AP - Iva Vukusic, a researcher at Utrecht University.

WHAT:

Fox News - The ICC’s 125-member states voted to remove Karim Khan over sexual misconduct allegations.

AP - Khan was removed for “serious misconduct and serious breach of duty.”

AP - Khan's lawyer stated he will appeal the decision.

AP - Venezuela announced it would withdraw from the ICC following Khan's ouster.

AP - The ICC is facing a campaign by the United States to “dismantle” the court.

WHERE:

AP - The International Criminal Court is located in The Hague, Netherlands.

AP - Venezuela's announcement regarding its withdrawal from the ICC was made by its foreign affairs minister.

WHEN:

AP - The vote to remove Khan occurred on a Friday, though the specific date is not provided.

AP - The ICC is expected to hold elections for a new prosecutor.

WHY:

AP - Khan was accused of sexual misconduct with a female aide, which he has denied.

AP - The U.S. is launching a campaign to dismantle the ICC, citing concerns over U.S. sovereignty.

AP - Venezuela's withdrawal is based on perceived geographical bias in the ICC's actions.

HOW:

AP - The removal of Khan was determined by a vote among the ICC’s member states.

AP - Khan's legal team criticized the process, claiming he was blocked from addressing the session and that regulations were rewritten to disadvantage him.

(UPDATED July 24, 2026 22:20 UTC)

The International Criminal Court has voted to remove its chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, due to serious misconduct allegations, which he denies and plans to appeal. Following Khan's ouster, Venezuela announced it would withdraw from the ICC, citing perceived bias in the court's actions. The United States is also pushing a campaign to dismantle the ICC, raising concerns over U.S. sovereignty and the court's operations.