ICC Assembly of States Parties Refutes Claims That Prosecutor Karim Khan Has Been Cleared of Misconduct

The ICC Assembly of States Parties confirms the misconduct review for Karim Khan is ongoing, dismissing media reports that the prosecutor has been exonerated.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 22, 2026, 12:23 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Reuters

Internal Memo Rebuts Reports of Exoneration

A confidential internal memo circulated to International Criminal Court staff has confirmed that the investigation into Prosecutor Karim Khan is still active, despite recent media assertions to the contrary. Paivi Kaukoranta, President of the Assembly of States Parties, addressed the court's personnel to clarify that no final decision has been reached regarding the allegations of sexual misconduct. The communication serves as a formal correction to a report from Middle East Eye which suggested that the prosecutor had been cleared of the charges, an account the Assembly now characterizes as unverified speculation.

Allegations of Non-Consensual Conduct Under Review

The disciplinary process centers on allegations involving a purported non-consensual sexual relationship between Khan and a lawyer within his office. Since the claims surfaced, Khan has temporarily stepped aside from his duties to allow for an impartial investigation into the matter. Although he has consistently rejected all accusations of wrongdoing, the court’s executive branch maintains that the integrity of the judicial institution requires a thorough and confidential review of the evidence gathered by the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services.

UN Fact-Finding Report Submitted for Final Review

In December, the United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services concluded a yearlong fact-finding mission and submitted its findings to the Bureau of the Assembly of States Parties. This confidential dossier forms the basis of the current deliberations, which seek to determine whether professional misconduct occurred. While the fact-finding stage is complete, the Bureau emphasized that the subsequent disciplinary phase is a separate administrative process that has not yet concluded, meaning the legal standing of the prosecutor remains in a state of administrative limbo.