The news that ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan suspended from his post marks a dramatic turn for the International Criminal Court, after an investigation concluded he had committed serious sexual misconduct. The court’s governing body announced the suspension Monday, leaving Khan’s ultimate fate to a vote by member states.

What the Investigation Found

A diplomatic source briefed on the matter told Reuters that the court’s executive bureau determined Khan, 56, had committed serious misconduct. The finding followed an 18-month investigation into allegations that the prosecutor engaged in non-consensual sexual interactions with a female aide in his office. According to the source, the bureau has recommended that Khan be removed from office.

How the Decision Will Be Made

The path forward now runs through the court’s member states. The ICC’s governing body will forward its conclusions to all 125 member states, which will vote on Khan’s future in a special session. Removing him will require a majority in a secret ballot, meaning at least 63 countries would need to back the measure.

In a press release, the bureau confirmed it had reached a decision on the disciplinary proceedings and referred the matter to the Assembly of States Parties, which will be convened as soon as possible. It declined, however, to disclose the specifics of its decision, stating that the bureau’s ruling and related documentation would remain confidential. The release also noted that Khan’s suspension pending the assembly meeting should not be read as an indication of the final outcome.

Khan Rejects the Findings

Khan’s legal team pushed back forcefully. In a statement, his lawyers said he rejected the decision in the strongest terms and continued to deny any wrongdoing, describing the decision as unlawful, procedurally unfair, and unsupported by evidence.

A Court Already in Crisis

The investigation has thrust the ICC into turmoil at a particularly fraught moment for its most prominent official. The court has also been grappling with U.S. sanctions imposed over its actions, including arrest warrants issued for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant in connection with the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

Beyond those warrants, Khan had also issued arrest warrants for three leaders of the Palestinian terror group Hamas, all of whom were later killed by Israel.

Khan has not led the ICC Office of the Prosecutor since last May, when he took a voluntary leave of absence pending the outcome of the inquiry. He is the first ICC prosecutor to be formally suspended from the role by the court’s oversight body.

The Allegations in Detail

The accusations against Khan first reached the court’s independent watchdog more than two years ago. An Associated Press investigation reported that Khan allegedly noticed the woman working in another ICC department and moved her into his office, after which she became a frequent presence on official trips, according to whistleblower documents.

Those documents describe several alleged incidents. On one foreign trip, Khan reportedly asked the woman to rest with him on a hotel bed and then touched her sexually. Other alleged non-consensual behavior included locking his office door, putting his hand in her pocket, and repeatedly asking her to join him on a vacation.

For now, Khan remains suspended as the ICC’s member states prepare to weigh whether to permanently remove him, a decision that will carry significant weight for an institution already navigating multiple crises.