Khan is under UN investigation for alleged inappropriate behavior; deputy prosecutors will assume his responsibilities during his absence.
The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Karim Khan, who has been under investigation since November for alleged “inappropriate” conduct, has temporarily stepped down from his position, his office announced on Friday.
“The Prosecutor has announced his decision to step aside until the conclusion of the proceedings” being conducted by UN investigators, his office said in a statement, following multiple media reports of alleged sexual misconduct.
The external investigation is being carried out by the UN’s Office of Internal Oversight Services, the organization’s internal watchdog.
Women’s rights advocacy groups welcomed the decision. They had called for his resignation after the allegations surfaced last year, but Khan initially resisted stepping down.
Last year, an investigation by the Associated Press revealed that two court employees, trusted by the alleged victim, filed the complaint in May. This occurred just weeks before Khan requested arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his defense minister, and three Hamas leaders on war crimes charges.
The court’s independent oversight body reported that it had interviewed the woman and concluded its investigation after five days when she decided not to file a formal complaint. Khan was not questioned during that period.
Although the tribunal’s watchdog was unable to determine misconduct, it issued a memo advising Khan to minimize contact with the woman in order to protect the rights of all parties involved and preserve the integrity of the court.
Khan has been under mounting pressure on several fronts. U.S. President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on him in February over the arrest warrants related to Israel. The sanctions are reportedly hindering the ICC’s ability to pursue a wide range of ongoing investigations.
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