The International Criminal Court (ICC) is set to initiate an external investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct against its chief prosecutor, Karim Khan. This decision follows the closure of a similar inquiry by the court’s internal oversight body within just five days. Khan has firmly rejected claims that he attempted to manipulate a female aide into a sexual relationship, coinciding with increasing concerns about an Israeli intelligence initiative aimed at undermining the ICC’s prosecution efforts against Benjamin Netanyahu regarding alleged war crimes in Gaza.
The approval for this external probe was granted during a meeting held by the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute, which supervises the ICC. Sources familiar with the proceedings discussed this development on a confidential basis, revealing that potential investigators could include law enforcement personnel from Europe or a law firm. The possibility of involving the United Nations’ internal oversight body was also deliberated; however, complications may arise due to Khan’s wife, a notable human rights attorney, having previously worked with that agency in Kenya on sexual harassment investigations.
Neither the current head of the ICC’s oversight body, Finnish diplomat Päivi Kaukoranta, nor Khan’s legal representative has responded to requests for comments regarding this situation. Investigations reveal that two employees to whom the alleged victim confided came forward in May, shortly before Khan sought arrest warrants against several high-profile individuals, including Netanyahu, his defense minister, and three Hamas leaders for war crimes. A panel of three judges is currently evaluating that request.
Reports indicate that Khan frequently traveled with the woman following her transfer to his office from another department within the ICC. Whistleblower documents reveal instances of alleged misconduct during a foreign trip where Khan reportedly invited the woman to share a hotel bed and then allegedly made sexual advances. Additional claims of non-consensual behavior included Khan locking his office door and reaching into her pocket, along with several requests for them to take vacations together.
After coworkers reported the alleged incidents, the ICC’s internal watchdog interviewed the woman. However, she decided against pursuing a formal complaint, citing a lack of faith in the watchdog’s processes. Consequently, Khan was not questioned during the inquiry, which concluded rapidly. While the internal oversight body did not establish any wrongdoing, they did advise Khan to limit interactions with the woman to preserve the integrity of the court and protect all parties involved.
Under Khan’s leadership, the ICC has intensified its efforts to address crimes against humanity and war crimes, which has, in turn, resulted in an expanding list of adversaries. In September, following the initiation of a probe into alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine, the court faced a severe cyberattack that hindered operations for weeks. Complicating matters further, an intern linked to the court was later apprehended in the United States on espionage charges linked to Russia.
In parallel, since the ICC acknowledged Palestine as a member and commenced preliminary investigations into Israel’s conduct in 2015, Israel has undertaken efforts to influence the court’s operations. Reports from various media outlets indicated that for the past decade, Israeli intelligence has allegedly targeted key ICC personnel, including surveillance of Khan’s predecessor and monetary inducements meant to discredit her.
Khan recommended an investigation by the ICC’s internal watchdog in response to initial reports, expressing his willingness to cooperate fully. The external probe marks a significant development in this ongoing situation, as the court aims to uphold its standards and address the serious accusations.