International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan is facing serious allegations of sexual misconduct, with reports now suggesting he may have retaliated against staff who reported the claims or criticized his handling of the issue. According to multiple sources briefed on the matter, the United Nations (U.N.) is investigating these allegations, which include claims that Khan demoted at least four staff members in his office. The accusations were made by a female lawyer who reported sexual misconduct by Khan, and the retaliatory actions allegedly followed after her complaint and similar reports from other staff members.
The sources, who requested anonymity due to concerns about reprisals, say that Khan’s actions are under scrutiny by the U.N.’s Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS). However, Khan’s legal team, Carter-Ruck, has firmly denied all allegations, stating that the prosecutor has never engaged in sexual misconduct or retaliatory behavior. The law firm emphasized that Khan intends to fully cooperate with the investigation, though they declined to provide further details on whether retaliatory conduct is specifically being examined.
These developments come amid Khan’s high-profile position at the ICC, where he is overseeing investigations into global figures, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Both countries have rejected the ICC’s jurisdiction, with Russia’s government recently facing an arrest warrant for alleged war crimes related to the war in Ukraine. The U.S. has imposed sanctions on Khan in response to the ICC’s investigation into Israel, further complicating his tenure at the court.
While Khan has pledged to continue his work, he remains under investigation, and the full scope of the allegations will only be clear once the U.N.’s inquiry is completed. The ICC, an institution that prosecutes war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other international offenses, is navigating a challenging period as both internal and external controversies continue to surround Khan’s leadership.
