International Criminal Court's lead prosecutor Karim Khan has stepped down temporarily on Friday until the end of UN's sexual misconduct investigation into his alleged actions against a junior staff member.
The move is unprecedented, and there are no clear procedures for replacing him. Khan's office has told the media that the ICC's two deputy prosecutors will step in during his absence.
Khan, who has been in his role at the ICC since 2021, is accused of forcing himself on the female assistant in a New York hotel room in December 2023, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal.
The incident is being investigated as part of an alleged pattern of inappropriate touching, harassment and forced intercourse perpetrated by Khan against his accuser.
The assistant, a lawyer from Malaysia in her 30s, alleged Khan further forced her into sexual intercourse against her will while on missions in New York, Colombia, Congo, Chad and Paris, as well as his residence at the Hague, according to her testimony reviewed by the US-based outlet.
Khan's lawyers have said all allegations he committed sexual violence or misconduct are "categorically untrue". In turn, his lawyers have claimed the case against him was part of a broader attempt to discredit the ICC after Khan issued a warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over their role in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
However, the warrant was issued just two weeks after the allegations against Khan were formally levelled, which raised questions about whether it was an attempt to preserve his public image.
Khan has also rejected any links between the sexual misconduct probe and the controversial warrant via his attorneys.
Khan's actions against Israeli officials have led US President Donald Trump to issue sanctions against him, which ICC President Tomoko Akane said have put the court in jeopardy.
UN’s Office of Internal Oversight Services report on Khan's alleged misconduct is expected in the coming months, according to reports.
